By Score More
England secured their spot in the European Championship final, three years after their previous appearance, with a late victory over the Netherlands. The winning goal for the Three Lions (1-2) came in stoppage time at 90+1 minutes, courtesy of substitute Ollie Watkins, whose precise shot found the back of the net. Despite scrutiny over Gareth Southgate’s tactics, England marches into Sunday’s final in Berlin, where they will face Spain.
The first half witnessed a thrilling contest between two teams eager to attack without hesitation, as seen in previous Euro matches. Similar to the other semifinal, it was a lively affair with two goals and both sides hitting the woodwork twice. England and the Netherlands maintained their tactical formations and starting lineups from the quarterfinals.
The opening salvo came with a superb goal from Xavi Simons. The Dutch midfielder, on loan from Paris Saint-Germain to Leipzig, Germany, won the ball from an English player, took two touches, and unleashed a powerful shot that nestled into the bottom corner despite Verbruggen’s touch.
England equalized somewhat controversially. Following a Harry Kane shot, Denzel Dumfries inadvertently blocked the ball with his foot, leading to a moment of hesitation from the referee team. VAR intervened, and after Felix Zwayer reviewed the incident, a penalty was awarded to the English. Kane stepped up and calmly converted, joining Alan Shearer with seven goals in European Championships.
The match continued its drama. At 29 and 32 minutes, the ball struck the woodwork twice, once for each side. First, Denzel Dumfries, who had conceded the penalty, thundered a shot against the crossbar with Pickford beaten. In response, Phil Foden hit the post with a Yamal-like shot from the right to the center. This time, the ball rebounded away from the goal.
Dumfries made a crucial goal-line clearance from Foden’s effort, and Memphis Depay was forced off for Veerman. Malen briefly moved to center-forward before making way for Weghorst at halftime, while Xavi Simons shifted to the right flank.
The second half saw both teams adopt cautious tactics, prioritizing defensive stability and managing the clock, knowing that a draw would lead to extra time. The Netherlands became more defensive, allowing England to control possession and dictate play.
As impatience grew among the fans, especially after Harry Kane was substituted for Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, and Phil Foden also departed, it seemed the match was headed for extra time. However, in a dramatic twist, Watkins found space in the Dutch defense, turned past De Vrij, and slotted home a precise shot into the far corner at 90+1 minutes to seal England’s victory.
England reaches the final of a major competition away from home for the first time. While the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2020 finals were hosted at Wembley, their chance to win a European Championship for the first time comes in Berlin. Standing in their way is possibly the strongest team of this edition – Spain, managed by Luis de la Fuente.
Key Player: Ollie Watkins
Entering the match at 81’, Watkins scored the decisive goal at 90+1’. In just ten minutes, Watkins, who had an impressive season with Aston Villa (finishing fourth in the Premier League goal-scoring charts), changed the course of a game that seemed destined for extra time. His clinical finish showcased his credentials as a top-tier striker.
Stay tuned for the grand finale as England seeks to make history against Spain in Berlin!