England’s journey to the Euro 2024 final has been marked by drama and controversy, culminating in a nail-biting 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the semi-final at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund. The win sets up a showdown with Spain in Berlin on Sunday, July 14, as England seeks its first major trophy since the 1966 World Cup.The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with Xavi Simons giving the Netherlands an early lead. England equalized through a Harry Kane penalty in the 18th minute, a decision that has sparked debate. Former England defender Gary Neville criticized the VAR decision, calling it ’embarrassing’ and stating that the Dutch player’s intervention did not warrant a penalty.As the game seemed destined for extra time, England manager Gareth Southgate made a bold substitution, bringing on Ollie Watkins for captain Harry Kane. The move paid off spectacularly when Watkins scored a stunning winner in stoppage time (90+1), assisted by fellow substitute Cole Palmer.The victory, while celebrated by England fans, has left the Dutch team and supporters in despair. Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk described the result as ‘very painful’ and criticized the referee’s decision to end the game immediately after the final whistle.England’s path to the final has been anything but smooth. The team has relied on late equalizers and penalty shootouts in previous rounds, prompting King Charles III to humorously encourage the team to ‘secure victory before the need for any last-minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama’ to alleviate the nation’s collective stress.As England prepares for their second consecutive European Championship final, they face the challenge of overcoming an outstanding Spain team. With both teams aiming for glory, the stage is set for an exciting conclusion to Euro 2024 on Sunday in Berlin.
Key points
- England secured a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final with a late goal from Ollie Watkins.
- The match was marked by controversy, particularly surrounding the penalty decision that led to England’s equalizer.
- England will face Spain in the final on Sunday, July 14, in Berlin, aiming for their first major trophy since 1966.
Contradictionsđź‘ľThere are conflicting views on the fairness of the penalty decision, with Gary Neville calling it ’embarrassing’, while other sources do not mention any controversy surrounding the decision.
