In a thrilling semifinal match at Euro 2024, England secured a place in the tournament's final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. The match, held in Dortmund, Germany, saw England reach a major final on foreign soil for the first time in its history.
The game began with an early shock for England as Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands the lead with a spectacular long-range strike in the 7th minute. However, England's response was swift. Captain Harry Kane equalized from the penalty spot just 10 minutes later, following a VAR review that spotted a foul on Kane by Denzel Dumfries.
The first half was marked by high-intensity play from both sides, with England showing a level of attacking prowess that had been largely absent in their previous matches of the tournament. Phil Foden came close to giving England the lead, only to be denied by Dumfries' goal-line clearance.
As the second half progressed, the Netherlands tightened their midfield, limiting England's attacking options. The match seemed destined for extra time until substitute Ollie Watkins broke the deadlock in the first minute of added time. Receiving a pass from fellow substitute Cole Palmer, Watkins created space and fired a brilliant shot across goal into the bottom corner.
After the match, Watkins revealed a prescient conversation with Palmer: "I swear on my life, my kid's life, I said to Cole Palmer: 'We're coming on today and you're going to set me up.'" The Aston Villa striker added, "When I saw it go in the bottom corner, it was the best feeling ever."
England's journey to the final has been marked by resilience, with the team overcoming criticism of their playing style and several close matches. "We've got that bounce back factor, going a goal behind. We never give up," Watkins noted.
The victory sets up a final showdown with Spain, widely regarded as the tournament's standout team. For England and manager Gareth Southgate, Sunday's final presents an opportunity to avenge their heartbreaking loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
As England prepares for its most significant match since the 1966 World Cup final, the nation's fans will be hoping that 58 years of international disappointment may finally come to an end.
* CNN Sports contributed to this article.
