EURO CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL Germany Under-21s 4 England Under-21s 0

STUART Pearce’s England Under-21s were crushed in their European Championship final in Malmo on a familiar evening that featured a goalkeeping error and a ruthless German victory.

Mesut Ozil’s long-range free-kick embarrassed standin goalkeeper Scott Loach but England were already trailing at that stage to Gonzalo Castro’s opener at Swedbank Stadion.

Sandro Wagner then added two late goals to continue Pearce’s jinx against Germany, after losing to them twice as a player in major tournaments.

At senior level, England’s clashes against Germany have created so many memories – World Cup victory for Sir Alf Ramsey’s men, Paul Gascoigne’s tears, penalties and that famous night in Munich when it ended 5-1.

But last night Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did not make a save throughout the one-sided match.

Pearce had keeper Joe Hart suspended, so Loach started in goal and his first real action saw him picking the ball out of the net midway through the first half.

Ozil was the architect, running at the England defence and playing a through-ball between Martin Cranie and Loach.

It was perfectly weighted for Castro, who stabbed the ball over Loach.

Three minutes after the restart Germany grabbed their second.

Michael Mancienne, on at the break for Nedum Onuoha, fouled Wagner 35 yards from goal and Ozil took charge of the set-piece.

He was helped by England’s wall falling apart and Loach could not handle the swerving effort, falling too far to his right before getting a palm on the ball and helping it in.

Stockton-born Lee Cattermole tried his best, skimming the bar from long distance when given time on the ball.

Then Milner left Boenisch on his backside with a piece of trickery before pulling the ball back for Middlesbrough ace Adam Johnson, whose finish was cleared off the line by Andreas Beck.

Cattermole had an effort cleared off the line but Germany extended their lead with 11 minutes remaining.

Ozil nicked the ball in midfield before marauding forward and releasing Wagner, who finished through Loach’s legs.

Wagner then added the fourth, in the 84th minute, curling into the far corner neatly following a counter-attack.