England are all-but out of the European U21 Championships after a dramatic 4-2 defeat by Romania on Friday, which saw six goals under 20 minutes.

England's extremely slim hopes of finishing best runners-up will be dashed if France avoid defeat by Croatia on Friday evening (8pm), but went behind through George Puscas' penalty (76), before Demarai Gray's fine leveller (79).

Ianis Hagi, Romanian legend Gheorghe's son, capitalised on Fikayo Tomori's error to make it 2-1 (85), and though Tammy Abraham equalised again (87), a double from sub Florinel Coman (89 and 90+3) but the game out of reach.

Aidy Boothroyd made five changes, leaving Ryan Sessegnon, Phil Foden, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Dominic Solanke on the bench, with the 10 outfield players coming from just three parent clubs in Chelsea, Leicester and Everton.

Dean Henderson, who was man-of-the-match in the 2-1 defeat by France on Tuesday, was on fine form again early on, beating away Andrei Ivan's shot from an angle, before Ivan again hit the outside of the post from 10 yards with a glorious chance having chested down a looped header into the box.

James Maddison struck a 25-yard free-kick just wide moments later, but Romania had the better of the chances at the other end, again testing Henderson from inside the box as Dennis Man was found free by Ianis Hagi.

Mason Mount's long-range effort was awkward for Romania goalkeeper Ionut Radu to beat away just before the break, and England improved further after the break as Jonjoe Kenny saw a far-post header cleared off the line.

Half-time sub Sessegnon then had to be replaced by Phil Foden near the hour mark for a knee injury, and the Manchester City man nearly made an instant impact, denied by a combination of Radu and the post after an angled effort.

Romania took the lead with 14 minutes remaining as Jonjoe Kenny left a leg on Coman, with Puscas finishing low to Henderson's left from the spot kick, starting a bizarre final 20 minutes.

Gray's fine curling effort from 20 yards made it 1-1, but Tomori's fluffed clearance at the other end allowed Hagi to find the bottom left corner with a driven effort from 18 yards.

There was more to come as sub Abraham found the far corner from 10 yards after taking down a long ball, but Henderson made a howler to give Romania the lead again, beaten at his near post by a simple Coman effort from range.

England had two chances to level again through Abraham, first seeing a shot from 10 yards well saved by Radu, and then a header crash off the bar, but Romania put the cherry on top of their win as Coman half-volleyed a stunner past Henderson from 20 yards for 4-2.