Ollie Watkins’ 90th-minute winner, nine minutes after replacing captain Harry Kane, has sent an oft-criticised England side into consecutive European Championship finals as they again recovered from a goal behind to triumph – this time leaving Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands stunned – after riding the waves in an emotionally draining semi-final victory. Spain await on Sunday in Berlin.
England edge their way into another Euro final
England 2-1 Netherlands
Kane (pen) 18, Watkins 90 — Simons 7
- Thrilling: England reach their first tournament final away from Wembley, after Ollie Watkins’ last-minute winner was their only second-half shot
- Small margins! Controversy over first-half penalty awarded after VAR review will continue as Denzel Dumfries adjudged to have fouled Kane in the area, though not on first viewing by German referee Felix Zwayer
- Spain now face England on Sunday at 8pm BST – their first H2H meeting since October 2018, where England won 3-2 during Nations League play
THREE years ago at this same stage, they needed a Harry Kane rebound – moments after Kasper Schmeichel saved his penalty – to edge past Denmark in extra-time. Just as it looked like they were destined for another half-hour’s action on a draining evening in Dortmund, two substitutes combined and pandemonium soon followed.
Kane, who equalised with a controversial penalty early in the first-half, buzzed around almost everywhere besides the No. 9 position he’s made his own over the past decade with his England teammates stifled and needing fresh impetus.
After his Switzerland heroics, Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka thought he’d given England a slender lead with a first-time finish following slick interplay between Manchester City pair Phil Foden and Kyle Walker. The latter strayed marginally offside before receiving possession though and the goal was chalked off, as Foden departed.
He was lively in the first-half but left lamenting his lack of luck an hour later, having failed to maintain that purposeful energy nor creative nous with any consistency after the break. Kane wasn’t pressing the Dutch defenders and the free-flowing rhythm England established in midfield areas early after going behind had vanished.
So on came Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins and Chelsea’s creator-in-chief Cole Palmer, who had combined for 41 goals and 24 assists in the Premier League last term, for the final ten minutes plus stoppage-time. A nice luxury to have when chasing the game, one finely poised and seemingly destined for extra-time too.
The tone of this piece could’ve been so different, had Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi not stayed composed as he lost his footing in the area marshalling a persistent Wout Weghorst, producing an excellently-timed intervention under duress.
Ezri Konsa did a fine job as his replacement in the semifinals through suspension, but the centre-back – 24 on Saturday – quickly silenced any questions about his suitability in a Harry Maguire-less backline and quietly was again dependable here.
Palmer fired an effort over the bar four minutes after Guehi’s key defensive recovery, after Watkins himself was inches away from latching onto a pass by fellow substitute Luke Shaw down the left moments earlier. Alarm bells rang at both ends of the pitch, as this frantic affair continued and neither closer to a breakthrough.
Worsening matters for the Dutch, German referee Felix Zwayer wasn’t having the best evening. Whether blowing his whistle for a non-foul or incorrectly giving a goal-kick when the last touch came off an England head, he made three consecutive errors as Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk was incensed (and later booked for dissent).
He didn’t know what was to come, and this time, there were no officials or belated VAR checks to save them from a painful exit – this their best result since Euro 2004.
Palmer fed Watkins, who turned Stefan de Vrij before firing low into the bottom corner beyond Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to overturn yet another deficit.
Simons picked the right moment to find his first finish at the Euros, some 24 hours after fellow La Masia product Yamal lit up the first semifinal at France’s expense.
Arsenal’s Declan Rice had his pocket picked in a dangerous area by the 21-year-old, who took two touches before letting fly from distance to break the deadlock – Pickford partially unsighted by Walker but got fingertips to a powerful 23-yard effort that he would’ve expected to save as the Dutch contingent erupted.
A goal down after eight minutes, Verbruggen saved down low from Kane’s ambitious effort before the controversial moment blowing this encounter wide open.
Kane struck a half-volley over the crossbar but hit Inter’s Denzel Dumfries – attempting to block the shot – with his follow-through. All signs pointed to a goal-kick, before the referee’s obligatory hand-to-ear stance suggesting otherwise.
The match’s VAR officials advised him to take a look at the monitor, and as Ally McCoist said on ITV commentary, the referee rarely sticks with their original decision after that call. Whether you’re biased or not, it’s easy to see he really should have.
Dumfries couldn’t do much else there, Kane initiating the contact after the shot, and an honest attempt to block was penalised. Kane converted the contentious spot-kick, low and hard into the far corner and suddenly this match’s dynamc had shifted.
Manchester club rivals Kobbie Mainoo and Foden combined with some intricate build-up play before the latter wriggled his way through traffic and almost scored after slotting a shot through Verbruggen’s legs, Dumfries anticipated well to calmly sweep away danger on the goalline.
Ten minutes later, former Manchester United forward Memphis Depay (free agent) looked ruefully at his right hamstring and limped off as PSV’s Joey Veerman replaced him in a tactical change meant to shore up midfield as England were on top.
Jude Bellingham and Mainoo in particular buzzed around intently as the whole team had pushed up 20 yards and were virtually housed in Holland’s half, patiently looking for spaces to exploit as they lurked ever closer towards goal.
Foden was denied by a smart Verbruggen stop before the break after more patient England build-up play, in what had been their best 45 minutes’ action collectively since this tournament began. That wouldn’t last. The second-half was far more nervy, stale and Southgate’s side could’ve been punished as their intensity dropped.
Luke Shaw replaced Kieran Trippier at left-back while Weghorst was on for Malen, though Jordan Pickford was called into action twice in three minutes – first from van Dijk’s header, then Gakpo’s curling cross to the far post – as warning signs grew.
Simons couldn’t connect with the same venom he showed earlier as his downward volley was smothered and England could breathe again after Walker’s recovery challenge stopped an onrushing Gakpo in his tracks near the area.
Netherlands passed out of the press wonderfully on 83 minutes as Milan midfielder Tijani Reijnders bore down on goal but, thanks to Guehi, Weghorst wasn’t afforded a chance at Pickford on a night where they were left to rue their attacking execution.
Picture source: Getty Images
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