Substitute Ollie Watkins’ last-minute goal sent England to their second consecutive European Championship final, defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in a thrilling semi-final at the Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday, July 10th.
The dramatic victory sets up a classic showdown against Spain in the EURO 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, as Gareth Southgate’s men look to make history by winning their first title since 1966.
The match began with an electrifying atmosphere, but it was the Netherlands who struck first.
In just the seventh minute, Xavi Simons capitalised on a rare mistake by Declan Rice, dispossessing him and unleashing a stunning 20-yard shot past Jordan Pickford.
The early goal ignited the Oranje faithful, creating a daunting task for England.
Undeterred, England responded swiftly. Harry Kane tested Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen with a powerful long-range effort before being awarded a controversial penalty.
Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have fouled Kane in the box, and the England captain coolly converted the spot-kick to equalise in the 18th minute.
This goal made Kane the all-time top scorer in the European Championship knockout stages, surpassing Antoine Griezmann. The Bayern Munich striker has now scored six goals in Euro knockout stages.
The equaliser galvanized England, who dominated the rest of the first half. Phil Foden came close to giving England the lead, only for Dumfries to clear his effort off the line.
At the other end, Dumfries almost turned the game on its head again by heading onto the crossbar.
Then yet again, Foden continued to torment the Dutch defense, hitting the post with a curling left-footed shot from distance. However, f, the first half ended 1-1.
The second half saw a tactical shift as Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman introduced Wout Weghorst to change the dynamics.
England struggled to maintain their first-half momentum, and the Dutch began to assert control. Virgil van Dijk’s header forced a quick reaction save from Pickford, keeping the scores level.
As the match wore on, England found themselves on the back foot. A moment of relief came when Bukayo Saka found the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Southgate then made a bold decision to substitute Foden and Kane for Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins, a move that proved to be a masterstroke.
With extra time looming, Palmer played a precise low pass to Watkins, who turned sharply and fired a low shot past Verbruggen, sending the English fans into raptures.
The late winner secured England’s place in the final, sparking jubilant scenes on the pitch and in the stands.
For the Netherlands, the defeat marked an end to their hopes of replicating their 1988 Euro triumph. Despite a spirited performance, Koeman’s men fell short to the Three Lions.
England’s victory against the Netherlands was a testament to their resilience and tactical acumen, showcasing their best football of the tournament.
The side that has been largely underwhelming in the tournament is now facing Spain, who have been superb thus far, in the final in Berlin on Sunday, July 14th.
The Three Lions will be aiming to banish the memories of their EURO 2020 final defeat against Italy and claim their first European Championship title.
Southgate’s side has an opportunity to etch their names into history by bringing a major trophy back to England for the first time in 58 years and winning the first major trophy on foreign soil.
