England crashed out of the European U21 Championship at the group stage after a nightmare finale to their match against the Czech Republic.

Stuart Pearce's side looked on course to qualify for the semi-finals when Danny Welbeck scored 14 minutes from time, a result which would see them go through as runners-up if it stayed like that at the final whistle.

But substitutes Jan Chramosta and Tomas Pekhart struck in the final minute and in stoppage-time to condemn England to an extraordinary defeat, and send the Czechs through to face Group A winners Switzerland on Wednesday.

Pearce dropped captain Michael Mancienne, Jack Rodwell and Danny Rose. Phil Jones replaced Mancienne as skipper and Fabrice Muamba, Tom Cleverley and Scott Sinclair were all drafted into the starting XI.

The Czechs also made three changes, bringing in Libor Kozak, Jan Kovarik and Lukas Marecek.

England needed a dramatic improvement on their opening two draws against Spain and Ukraine and there was certainly more of an attacking shape about Pearce's line-up, with Daniel Sturridge and Cleverley taking up advanced positions.

A lovely interchange of passes was finished by Sturridge in the eighth minute but the flag was already up for offside.

Sturridge released Welbeck three minutes later but the striker's fizzing drive was too close to Tomas Vaclik.

England needed a brilliant save from Frankie Fielding to avoid falling behind in the 17th minute, the goalkeeper tipping over Marecek's dipping half-volley from Kozak's knockdown.

The Czechs enjoyed a brief spell of possession but when England got the ball back, they put together their best move of the tournament, Cleverley volleying Ryan Bertrand's cross into the sidenetting.

In the 41st minute Sinclair cut inside from the left and unleashed a blistering drive which was tipped over by Vaclik.

The Czechs, knowing a draw would see them through, seemed content to let England have the ball after the restart and hit them on the break.

It was a dangerous tactic but one that was paying off, although Kyle Walker's fizzing cross did cause some consternation and Cleverley fired over from distance.

Jones eventually took charge himself from the back, carrying the ball right to the byline and drawing a foul.

With just over a quarter of the game remaining, Pearce brought on Henri Lansbury in place of Jordan Henderson.

The Czechs followed suit, withdrawing Kovarik for Milan Cerny, who immediately drew a foul from Walker that resulted in a booking.

England badly needed some inspiration and Sturridge tried to provide it when he chipped a 40-yard free-kick just over the bar, though it is unlikely he meant to test the keeper with his effort.

That was just a taster as the breakthrough finally arrived 14 minutes from time.

A good spell of possession culminated in a brilliant inswinging cross from the right from Sturridge, with Welbeck bulleting a header past the flailing Vaclik.

Marc Albrighton replaced Cleverley and Lansbury almost settled the contest when he drilled a free-kick narrowly wide.

Marek Suchy was booked for a blatant body check on Welbeck, who could have had a second after a goalmouth scramble. England looked in control and most likely to get the second, surely decisive, goal of the game.

With their own semi-final dream on the line, the Czechs made a desperate double substitution and one of the newcomers, Chramosta, nodded wide.

England, who threw on Rose for Sinclair late on, looked like holding out but disaster struck in the 90th minute.

Marcel Gecov was allowed to carry the ball into the box and his cross took a wicked deflection off Welbeck, allowing Chramosta to lift the ball over Fielding.

England poured forward and might have had a stoppage-time penalty when Sturridge was brought down but the flag was already up for offside.

And their misery was complete with the final kick of the game when another substitute, Pekhart, took advantage of gaping holes England had been forced to leave at the back and converted Chramosta's cross.