CAMPBELL GIVES 'EM EL; EUROPEAN U-21s SPAIN 0 ENGLAND 2.

Byline: SIMON BIRD

JAMES MILNER booked England's place in the Euro 2009 semi-finals as Stuart Pearce's decision to unleash Theo Walcott from the bench proved a masterstroke.

The Aston Villa winger produced a man-of-the-match display, and despite missing a first half penalty, he bounced back to grab the clinching second goal and send the Three Lions into the last four.

Milner struck on 73 minutes, after Walcott showed his sprinting power to leave Spain's defence floundering. His square ball picked out Milner. Given a second chance from 12 yards out, this time he made no mistake.

Boss Pearce's controversial decision to axe Walcott could have backfired spectacularly, but instead he was introduced after an hour, and turned the game. The Spanish defence were terrified of his pace.

England's opener was expertly finished by Fraizer Campbell. Once again it as the all-action Milner who was at the centre of the action.

He won the ball 40 yards out and dinked a pass to Campbell. He still had work to do, but turned, dragged marker Javi Garcia out of position and arrowed home a left-foot drive.

Two victories leave England top of Group B and make Monday's clash with Germany a formality. Pearce will be able to rest stars, including Micah Richards and Milner, who were booked last night.

Walcott looked distinctly unhappy at being benched following his anonymous display against Finland.

Middlesbrough's Adam Johnson, who was not even a regular at his relegated club last season, replaced him.

And when striker Gabby Agbonlahor pulled up injured after 38 minutes, it was Campbell who got the nod.

Spain dominated possession and England packed midfield chasing shadows. Yet England should have ended the first half a goal up when Milner won a penalty, then missed it.

The winger robbed the dithering Garcia on the edge of the box and then induced a trip as he turned him inside out, shaping to shoot.

But Spain keeper Sergio Asenjo dived low to his right to stop Milner's spot-kick.

Spain's best chance came courtesy of a bizarre defensive slip. Nedum Onuoha misdirected a back pass that had Joe Hart scrambling back towards goal and only just scooping away the ball.

Despite his penalty miss, Milner was the pick of the England team, doing sterling defensive work and popping up in attack, one cross from the left floating just over the bar.

One sweeping move saw Milner pick out Agbonlahor with a cross, but his header was deflected wide.

More crazy defending almost gifted Spain the lead on 54 minutes.

Hart misjudged a charge out of the box, Javi Martinez skipped round him and shot from a tight angle but Martin Cranie was on hand to clear.

Yet ultimately it was a solid show, and England will fancy their chances of going all the way.

ENGLAND: Hart 6, Cranie 7, Onuoha 6, Richards 7, Gibbs 7, Muamba 8, Milner 9, Cattermole 7, Noble 7, Johnson 6 (Walcott 60, 8), Agbonlahor 7 (Campbell 38, 8).

SPAIN: Asenjo 7, Monreal 6, Torrejon 6, Javi Garcia 4, Azpilicueta 5, Raul Garcia 6, Mario Suarez 6, Martinez 6, Krkic 6, Juardo 7, Adrian Lopez 6.

REFEREE: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) ATTENDANCE: 9,000

CAPTION(S):

RELIEF Pearce WE'RE ON OUR WAY England substitute Fraizer Campbell celebrates the second-half opener with Mark Noble and Theo Walcott in Gothenburg last night