MAYBE it was just the reminder that they needed.

It would have been easy for Stuart Pearce's men to think that they already have the Euro Under-21 Championship title in the bag.

The English players might not say it, but the thought could so easily have slipped into their subconscious.

If they, without 10 of their regulars, could draw 1-1 with a German team at full strength a week ago, then what chance would the Germans have if England are serious about winning the game? It's as good as a win.

Pearce had a little help from the Swedes though to help him banish those thoughts from his players' minds.

It wasn't the best way to reach a final, but it was a useful wake-up call.

Three-nil up at the break against Sweden in the semi-final, they somehow allowed the hosts to claw back to 3-3.

To Pearce's huge relief, England held on in extra-time, before winning the subsequent penalty shoot-out.

So, what happened in that match three days ago?

No one knows for sure, but the prime suspect is complacency.

So abject was England's second-half performance that it was almost totally unrecognisable from the glittering display in the first period.

But the near-collapse should prevent the England players from being over-confident when they play Germany in tomorrow morning's (Singapore time) final.

Examples abound of teams which beat their opponents in the early rounds, only to lose to the same opponents at the final hurdle.

At the 2002 Euro Under-21 Championship, France had beaten the Czech Republic 2-0 in the opening group match, only to lose to a Petr Cech-inspired side in the final.

At the 1988 European Championship, that is the tournament for the senior men's team, the Soviet Union suffered the same fate against Holland.

Germany might not have exactly thrilled the crowd on their way to the final, but one statistic stands out.

In the four matches they have played so far, they conceded just once.

Best goalkeeper

It is no coincidence that in Manuel Neuer, they have arguably the best goalkeeper in the tournament.

It was Neuer who kept out everything as Italy rained shot after shot in his direction, helping his team to a 1-0 win in the semi-finals.

In the England camp, however, Pearce has been hit by the loss of three players through suspension - Joe Hart, Fraizer Campbell and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Still, they are the favourites to lift the title, simply because they have the better players.

When Mark Hateley and gang did it back in 1984, none of the 23 players in Pearce's squad was even born yet.

Many believe this is one of the most talented England Under-21 squads in years.

These players are on the verge of creating history.

Hopefully, Sweden taught them a lesson just in time.