England will play their first ever major final on foreign soil when they face Spain in Monday’s (AEST) European Championship final.
Much maligned coach Gareth Southgate was being hailed for a master stroke after Ollie Watkins came on for Harry Kane in the final minutes and sealed a 2-1 win in injury time.
The Aston Villa striker turned his defender superbly in the box and shot hard across the Dutch keeper to decide a match that had looked destined for extra time for most of the second half.
As they’d done against Slovakia and Switzerland, England were forced to come from a goal down to progress in a knockout game.
Xavi Simons scored a cracking opener on eight minutes before England skipper Kane equalised from the penalty spot after he was fouled while shooting by Denzel Dumphries.
As is his way, a screaming Kane made the most of the challenge which was initially cleared, before a penalty was awarded on VAR review.
Kane was in no doubt he’d been fouled, of course.
“My foot’s hanging off so he definitely caught me! Sometimes you get them sometimes you don’t. I was happy to step up and see that go in the back of he net. It was a nice feeling for sure,” said the skipper.
England lost the previous Euros final to Italy in London, and won the 1966 World Cup also at Wembley Stadium. This is their first time in a foreign final – and will face a Spanish team that has won every game in the tournament and dispatched France in the other semi.
“History made. Amazing achievement,” said Kane. “I’m so proud of everyone. Every player, every member of staff, I’m so proud of them. To do what we’ve done away from home is really special. There’s that feeling there’s one more left and we need to do that on Saturday.”
Southgate has been hammered for team selections and substitutions through the tournament but he’s continued an excellent record in knockout games with England.
Having brought on Ivan Toney to help rescue the Slovakia game where England were moments from going out, this time he turned to Watkins.
“We talk about being ready. We’re a big team at being ready. When it matters, you might get five minutes, one minute, but you can make a difference , you can win us a tournament. He’s been waiting, he’s been patient. What he did was outstanding and he deserves it,” said Kane, who was replaced for the Villa man.
Watkins said: “I’ve been waiting for that moment for weeks. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am today. I’m delighted. I swear on my life that I said to Cole Palmer that he’s going to set me up today and I’m going to score. It’s the best feeling ever.
“There’s been a lot of criticism but we’re in the final and that’s all that matters. We’ve got that bounce back factor. Going behind seems to kick us into gear. We’ve won on penalties and come from behind.”
Former England striker Ian Wright praised the decision to bring on the match winner.
“Ollie Watkins’ game is about stretching and getting beyond defenders,” Wright said on the BBC.
“He is in between players. His movement has purpose. It’s in his mind to get ready. This is what Ollie Watkins does. This is the exact attitude I would want to have. You want Cole Palmer to come on and hit a pass that is perfect. In the moment, get back to the basics. It was absolutely perfect. Nobody did that to those defenders all night. They had an easy ride until he came on.”
Watkins had only made one previous appearance at Euro 2024 -as a substitute in the group game against Denmark, so it was a surprise when he was introduced by Southgate. The decision paid off and the sea of orange in the giant South Stand at Westfalenstadion fell silent.
It housed the most vocal of the Dutch supporters who dominated the city centre before marching in their thousands to the stadium ahead of the game. Police reported three separate clashes between fans from both countries in the city.
England, who came from behind to advance in the last 16 and quarter-finals, were up against it even more after the 21-year-old Simons became the second youngest scorer for the Netherlands at a Euros.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder dispossessed Declan Rice about 40m out, drove forward and unleashed a shot into the far corner from outside the area. England keeper Jordan Pickford could only get his fingertips to the thunderbolt.
Kane became the sixth player to be on three goals for the tournament when he converted the equaliser.
An open first half, which saw Dumfries and England’s Phil Foden hit the goal frame, made way for a tight and tense second half where chances were limited.
Bukayo Saka had a goal ruled out for a narrow offside on Kyle Walker, before Kane departed for Watkins in what might rank as Southgate’s best call in his eight-year England tenure.
“I never thought I’d be playing in the Euros for England,” said Watkins.
“You can dream but I am a realist, I just take by day and one step at a time. I was just focused on getting back into the first team at Exeter!
“I have put a lot of work to get to this point, not just this season. I will enjoy every moment.
“Recently I have obviously got a bit frustrated. I don’t like to be on the bench, I have had the best season of my career.
“A few friends messaged me and said be patient and the amount of people who messaged me tonight saying I would score when I come on was ridiculous. Hopefully they can do the same for the final or give me the lottery numbers.
“I didn’t dream about that to be honest. I can’t lie and say I did, scoring for England is amazing but I didn’t think I’d do it in a tournament like that.
“When I was on the bench I said to Dean Henderson I can make a difference today and need to get on. I took my chance, scored it and now are in the final. One last game.”
(With AAP)
Tony Harperhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/07/11/history-made-england-into-euros-final-after-southgates-absolutely-perfect-call-delivers-late-drama/‘History made’: England into Euros final after Southgate’s ‘absolutely perfect’ call delivers late drama
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