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By BBC Sports. England were knocked out of the European Under-21 Championship at the
group stage after a demoralising defeat by Norway in Israel.
Stuart Pearce's side, who lost their opening game
1-0 to Italy,
fell behind to Fredrik Semb Berge's neat 12-yard finish, and Molde's Jo Inge Berget doubled the lead before the break.
Magnus Wolff Eikrem made it 3-0 off the underside of the crossbar.
Craig Dawson netted a consolation from the penalty spot after he was fouled.
It was a bitterly disappointing outcome for coach Pearce, who had stated before the tournament that he had a
"burning ambition"
to win the Championship ahead of talks on his own future.
Instead the former Manchester City manager, whose
contract expires this month, watched his team wilt in the sweltering
heat in Petah Tikva.
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The road to Israel had been built on a solid defensive foundation.
Yet in front of watching senior manager Roy Hodgson at
the Ha Moshava Stadium, England were punished for some dreadful
defending at the back.
They had started the game determined to put behind them
the disappointment they experienced at the hands of Italy in Tel Aviv
three days earlier.
But they ended the match defeated and dejected after
exiting the European Championship at the group stage for the second
successive tournament.