Germany 4 England 0:Stuart Pearce's England Under-21s were crushed by Germany in their European Championship final in Malmo this evening, slumping to a 4-0 defeat as their opponents secured yet another underage crown to add to the under-17 and under-19 titles already in their possession.

Mesut Ozil’s long-range free-kick embarrassed stand-in goalkeeper Scott Loach but England were already trailing at that stage to Gonzalo Castro’s opener at Swedbank Stadion.

Sandro Wagner then added two late goals to continue Pearce’s jinx against Germany, after losing to them twice as a player in major tournaments.

Just as well senior boss Fabio Capello could not get a connecting flight to get to Sweden from the Confederations Cup in South Africa - this had too many reminders of past failures.

Pearce had Gabriel Agbonlahor and Fraizer Campbell suspended, meaning Theo Walcott was the lone striker and had no support.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer did not make a save throughout the one-sided match, leaving Pearce to rue leaving Daniel Sturridge with the Under-20s.

Pearce’s first choice goalkeeper had Joe Hart was suspended, so Loach started, and his first real action saw him picking the ball out of the net midway through the first half.

Ozil was the architect, receiving the ball from Fabian Johnson before running at the England defence and playing a through-ball between Martin Cranie and Loach. It was perfectly weighted for Castro, who stabbed the ball over Loach and in.

Germany looked comfortable shifting the ball around and giving England’s defence problems.

England had hoped to unleash Walcott’s pace on the Germans but it proved difficult.

He did get an early sighter when Fabrice Muamba started a swift counter-attack with an intelligent pass, then James Milner played the ball through — but Walcott sliced his finish wide of the near post.

That was as close as it got for England in the first half, then three minutes after the restart Germany grabbed their second. Michael Mancienne, on at the break for Nedum Onuoha, fouled Wagner 35 yards from goal and Ozil took charge of the set-piece.

The Werder Bremen playmaker was helped by England’s wall falling apart and Loach could not handle the swerving effort, falling too far to his right before getting a palm on the ball and helping it in.

Lee Cattermole tried his best to get England back in touch, skimming the bar from long distance when he was given time on the ball.

Then Milner left Boenisch on his backside with a piece of trickery before pulling the ball back for Adam Johnson, whose finish was cleared off the line by Andreas Beck.

When Milner fooled Boenisch again the defender clattered him on the touchline, right in front of Pearce, who clenched his fists angrily at the German.

It was pure frustration from Pearce as the match drifted away from his youngsters.

Cattermole had an effort cleared off the line but Germany extended their lead with 11 minutes remaining.

Ozil nicked the ball in midfield before marauding forward and releasing Wagner, who finished through Loach’s legs.

Wagner then added the fourth, in the 84th minute, curling into the far corner neatly following a counter-attack.