England secured a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, setting up a final showdown with Spain on Sunday, July 14, at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. The match, held at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, was a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams and their supporters.The Netherlands struck first, with Xavi Simons opening the scoring in the 7th minute with a precise shot from outside the penalty area. However, England’s captain Harry Kane equalized from the penalty spot in the 18th minute after a VAR review.The second half was a tense affair, with both teams creating chances but unable to break the deadlock. England’s goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several crucial saves to keep his team in the game. As the match seemed destined for extra time, England manager Gareth Southgate made a bold tactical decision, substituting captain Harry Kane for Ollie Watkins.This substitution proved to be the turning point of the match. In the first minute of stoppage time (90+1), Watkins became the hero for England, scoring the winning goal with an assist from fellow substitute Cole Palmer. Watkins, who had been patiently waiting for his opportunity, expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’ve been waiting for this moment for weeks. We worked our way into the game. I’m very grateful to have had the chance. When I saw the ball, I thought: ‘This is crazy.'” The victory marks a significant achievement for England, as it’s their second consecutive European Championship final appearance and their first time reaching a major international tournament final on foreign soil. England will be looking to win their first-ever European Championship title on Sunday.While the English camp and media celebrate this historic moment, the Dutch team and their supporters are left disappointed and frustrated with their elimination from the tournament. As both finalists prepare for Sunday’s showdown, the football world eagerly anticipates what promises to be an exciting conclusion to Euro 2024.
Key points
- England defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the Euro 2024 semi-final with a late goal from Ollie Watkins.
- Gareth Southgate’s tactical substitution of Watkins for Kane proved decisive in the match.
- England will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday, July 14, in Berlin.
- This is England’s second consecutive European Championship final appearance and their first on foreign soil.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in the reported score of the match.
While most sources report a 2-1 victory for England, one source reported a 1-0 win.
Given the overwhelming consensus, the 2-1 score is considered accurate.
