 |
| Highlights: Watkins sends England to Euro 2024 final |
England will face Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final in Berlin after substitute Ollie Watkins scored a last-minute goal against the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate's side look set to go into extra time for a third successive season with Harry Kane and a first half penalty following Xavi Simons Watkins' thunderbolt. England took the lead in the first half, Phil Foden made a brilliant start, hitting the ball from distance before Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen made a fine save. , Netherlands, who saw Denzel Dumfries' header hit the bar before the break, took control after the break and needed a vital assist from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford to keep England level. England were awarded 30 minutes of extra time before Watkins and Kane scored late goals to send England into their second successive European Championship final on a dramatic night in Dortmund.
Southgate’s England one game from glory
left Southgate and his players one game in history and ended a 58-year spell of "injury years". The campaign in Germany has been slow, but on a warm and breezy night, England had the chance to finish the tournament safely against the favorites Spain at the Olympiastadion. England attended their last final away from home since the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020 final at Wembley.They got it in style for Germany when they survived a few anxious moments before another late performance, this time from Watkins, put them over the line. It also allowed England to bounce back from their defeat to Italy on penalties at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final. Southgate and England became the team that almost missed out on a major league in eight years, but they were given the chance to write a new page in their history. Southgate, another stark proof of the methods developed after England's initially indifferent performance in this Test. Victory in Berlin would change the history of his season forever. And the introduction of Watkins is important with nine minutes left, the Aston Villa player continues to add energy and speed to the Dutch defense, his finish passed Verbruggen and the quality needed to win a tough game. England have had disappointments in the past and will not be able to cope when they face Spain, but they have faith in Southgate's team - even if their performance is lacking - and they go to Berlin convinced that they will -finally got the cup that escaped them. . more than half a century.
 |
| Kane penalty levels the score against Netherlands |
England can face Spain with hope
England stumbled against Germany but are still in contention to qualify for Euro 2024 in the final against Spain. Although England stopped their efforts in the second half and Holland looked like they would win in the end, the strength and refusal to be beaten in the main saw them again. England's , produced the best first-half crowd at Euro 2024, shockingly responding to their early lead with Simons' superb goal after seven minutes. Manchester United's 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo has produced a mature and spirited performance throughout the year, showing confidence and creating an atmosphere of pressure in the semi-finals of Euro 2024. England relied heavily on goalkeeper Pickford, who made a crucial save against Virgil van Dijk and held him when Holland piled on the pressure in the second half. Southgate's late change worked like a charm as his two substitutes combined to win the game, Cole Palmer providing Watkins with a great pass to send Stefan de Vrij over in time for Berlin. , Kane and Jude Bellingham are the numbers on the side, but this victory in England has good things that were missing before to send Berlin to last Sunday with hope and hope.
