England defeated Netherlands to set up a crunch battle against Spain in Euro 2024 Final.
England will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday, thanks to a last-minute strike from substitute Ollie Watkins, which secured a thrilling victory over the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate’s side seemed destined for extra time for the third successive game after Harry Kane’s contentious first-half penalty equalised a powerful early strike from Xavi Simons. However, Watkins’ late heroics changed the course of the match.
England dominated the first half, with Phil Foden particularly outstanding. Foden hit the post with a long-range effort and drew a fine save from Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen. The Netherlands, who saw Denzel Dumfries’ header hit the bar before the break, took control after halftime, requiring key interventions from keeper Jordan Pickford to keep England in the game.
Just as it appeared that another 30 minutes of extra time loomed, Watkins, who replaced Kane, delivered a superb late strike on the turn, securing England’s spot in their second successive European Championship final on a dramatic night in Dortmund.
England’s journey to the final has been characterised by resilience and late-game heroics. The campaign in Germany, initially a slow-burner, ignited on a sultry, stormy night, providing Southgate and his players the chance to end 58 years of “years of hurt.”
This final will mark England’s first on foreign soil since the 1966 World Cup final and follows the Euro 2020 final, which was played at Wembley. The match against Spain at the Olympiastadion offers England the opportunity to redeem the bitter defeat by Italy on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.
For Southgate, another final represents vindication of his methods, which have faced intense scrutiny following England’s indifferent earlier performances. A victory in Berlin would forever alter the narrative of his tenure.
Watkins’ introduction with nine minutes remaining proved decisive. The Aston Villa striker’s energy and pace troubled the Dutch defence, and his finish on the turn across Verbruggen provided the quality required to win a tightly contested game.
While England will be considered underdogs against Spain, there is a strong belief within Southgate’s team that they can finally claim the silverware that has eluded them for more than half a century.
