JOHN Swift's Under 21 European Championship campaign is over after England were knocked out by Germany - predictably on penalties.

The sides were locked at 2-2 after extra time in the semi final, but England lost the shoot-out 4-3 with Nathan Redmond missing England's fifth spot-kick after Tammy Abraham also had one saved.

It was a cruel way for Aidy Boothroyd's Young Lions to exit a tournament in which they had looked so impressive at various points.

Reading FC midfielder Swift started last night's clash in Tychy on the bench and came on in the 85th minute for his third appearance of the tournament in Poland.

He replaced Will Hughes, a recent £8m transfer from Derby to Watford, and once again showed some quality touches.

Reading Chronicle:

England's Nathan Redmond looks dejected after his missed penalty against Germany. Pictures: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

England had the bit between their teeth as they started strongly but failed to convert their chances.

The Germans survived and took the lead on 35 minutes when Davie Selke nodded in Jeremy Toljan’s cross.

But the Young Lions levelled only six minutes later when Demarai Gray volleyed in from close range.

It got even better for Boothroyd's boys when Abraham fired them ahead five minutes after the interval, turning in a neat pass after some clever Hughes footwork.

Yet there was no keeping Germany down and substitute Felix Platte made it 2-2 with a near-post finish from a corner with 20 minutes to go.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time – but Swift almost did in the second period of extra time when he headed narrowly wide from a Dominic Iorfa delivery.

However, the scores stayed that way and both sides showed nerves in the penalty shoot-out as Jordan Pickford saved from Germany's Yannick Gerhardt, only for Julian Pollersbeck to deny England's Abraham.

Lewis Baker, Ben Chilwell and James Ward-Prowse did convert their penalties for the Young Lions, but they had been matched all the way by the clinical Germans.

So when Nadiem Amiri's fifth spot-kick slipped through Pickford's fingers, it was left to Pollersbeck to save Redmond's tame effort to send Germany through to the final where they will meet Spain.

Reading Chronicle:

England Under 21 coach, Aidy Boothroyd, addresses the media.

Nevertheless, it was been a memorable summer for England on the youth front after the Under 20s, containing Royals stopper, Luke Southwood, won the World Cup in South Korea, the Under 18s won the Toulon Tournament and the Under 17s reached the Euro final where they lost to Spain on penalties.

"There's plenty to be optimistic about," said Boothroyd. "We've reached a semi-final, won the World Cup with the under-20s, the Under 17s did ever so well getting to a final.

"English football is on the up but at the minute we're all a little bit gutted because we thought we could win this tournament.

"I'm sure there will be future senior players in this team."

Last night's defeat was the third time England had lost a semi final to Germany on penalties after the senior team managed it in the 1990 World Cup in Italy and the 1996 European Championships at Wembley.

Meanwhile, Swift will enjoy enjoy a well-earned break before joining up with the Reading squad who returned to pre-season training on Monday.

For details of Royals' pre-season schedule click here.