Ollie Watkins scored in second-half stoppage time to help England beat Netherlands 2-1 and advanced to the final of the 2024 European Championship at the Signal Iduna Park in Germany on Wednesday night.
This was the first time the Three Lions secured a spot in the final in a major international tournament on foreign soil, with the previous two occasions being the 1966 FIFA World Cup and the 2020 European Championship, both of which were on home soil in England.
It was the Dutch who drew the first blood when Xavi Simons shot from the edge of the box to give Netherlands the lead in the seventh minute of the game.
However, England got its chance to restore parity after 10 minutes, when Denzel Dumfries’ late challenge on Harry Kane stopped play for a potential penalty. After consulting with VAR, the referee awarded the Three Lions a penalty kick, which Harry Kane stepped up and fired a venomous, low effort into the net to level on 18 minutes.
Buoyed by their equaliser, Foden came inches from handing his nation the lead when he received the ball from Kobbie Mainoo inside the area before he squeezed it under Verbruggen – only for Dumfries to recover well and control on the goal-line.
Though England dominated the remainder of the half, Dumfries headed against the bar with the Pickford beaten before Foden unfurled a curler reminiscent of Lamine Yamal’s goal for Spain last evening, but his effort almost as brilliant, crashed against the angle.
The second half was an altogether duller affair, Netherlands suffocating England in midfield. But Gareth Southgate was positive and decisive with his changes, and received his reward when Cole Palmer found Watkins, who did exactly what he was brought on to do and sent England to Berlin for final against Spain on Sunday.
