‘A great achievement’ – Klopp hails Elliott and Jones after U21 Euros glory

The Young Lions beat Spain 1-0 in last Saturday’s final thanks to a goal by Jones, who inadvertently deflected Cole Palmer’s free-kick into the net.

The Reds’ No.17 was subsequently named Player of the Match – just as he was after his team’s victory over Israel in the last four – and was earlier this week included in UEFA’s Team of the Tournament.

Elliott, meanwhile, made five appearances during the competition and scored a spectacular solo goal in England’s group-stage success against Germany.

Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com: “Congratulations – I texted them, obviously, directly after the game. They were by far the best team. Yes, in the final, how it is against Spain, you can get under pressure [and] they got under pressure. 

“But a really young group – U21s traditionally are pretty young! – and they did really well, a lot of good performances. 

“Yes, Curtis played pretty much each minute of the tournament, one game maybe he didn’t play, but he played a really good tournament in a different role, looked from time to time [like] an adult with kids around him on the other side, he looked really in charge of the things.

“He will play probably a different position and be more offensive orientated and all these kind of things, but a great achievement, a fantastic achievement. 

“And Harvey, [he] scored a fantastic goal and when he came on he was a real plus and did a really good job. So, yeah, a big thing. 

“What is it, 39 years [since England last won the tournament]? It’s a while ago that England won it, I can’t believe that, but in the moment the generations England have: the U20s, the U21s and the first team not so bad as well, so a good sign. English football is in a good moment, I would say.”