Classy Spain ease past Norway

Defending champions Spain are through to the final of the European Under-21 Championship after comfortably beating Norway.

The Spaniards came into the semi-final as heavy favourites after winning their three group games without conceding a goal and their class told with goals from Rodrigo, Isco and Alvaro Morata. The three-times champions will meet the winner of the second semi-final between Holland and Italy in Tuesday’s final.

After dominating the opening exchanges, Spain eventually took the lead on the stroke of half-time through Rodrigo.

Thiago Alcantara swung in a corner which was headed into the air by a defender and, when Marc Bartra won the second header, he flicked the ball into the path of Rodrigo who volleyed past Orjan Haskjold Nyland with the outside of his left foot.

Norway had a chance to equalise with five minutes left as the ball fell to Stefan Strandberg after a set piece but the centre-half could only put his shot over the bar from six yards out.

The result was put beyond doubt in the 87th minute as Isco showed sublime skill to double the lead. Morata found the Malaga forward on the edge of the penalty area and the 21-year-old first dropped his shoulder to beat his man before taking two strides forward and curling into the top corner with the outside of his right foot.

And, in the third minute of added time, Morata saw his initial shot saved by Nyland before curling in the rebound from a seemingly impossible angle.