A BATTLING display saw Sweden stun the footballing world to snatch their first ever European Under-21 Championship from the overwhelming tournament favourites Portugal on Tuesday evening.

Rui Jorge’s Portugese youngsters had dazzled in the semi-final hammering favourites to progress and 2009 winners Germany a whopping 5-0.

And with William Carvalho — who has been linked with a host of Premier League clubs for a number of years — pulling the strings, the men in red made an explosive start to their second ever final — the last resulted in a defeat to Italy in 1994.

The organised Swedes’ route to the final was beset with last-gasp goals. They had to wait until the 92nd minute before making the breakthrough needed against Turkey to take them into the qualification play-offs, an 88th minute goal saw them beat France in the play-offs themselves and an 89th leveller against co-finalists Portugal clawed them out of the group stages and into the knockout rounds.

In fact England’s sole tournament victory came against the sporadic Blue-Yellows.

But disciplined displays, tenacity and an increasing confidence then saw the Scandinavian side surprise all to knock out Denmark in the semi-final 4-1.

And as the Eden Stadium final wore on and the Portuguese pressure failed to yield a goal, captain Sergio Oliveira’s curling free-kick rattling the crossbar in just one of many chances, Sweden’s confidence grew further.

Extra time and penalties beckoned. After five scored penalties, a miss apiece and another goal apiece star man Carvalho saw his side’s final spot-kick saved by Patrik Carlgren to give the Swedes, appropriately, another last gasp win.