Netherlands 1-2 England: Watkins sends Three Lions to Euro 2024 final

England booked their spot successful nan Euro 2024 last aft beating nan Netherlands 1-2 successful Dortmund.

Ronald Koeman’s broadside started quickly, Xavi Simons catching Declan Rice retired earlier driving a onslaught past Jordan Pickford to nonstop nan orangish wall down him wild.

But England had a punishment a fewer minutes later.

Denzel Dumfries was judged to person caught Harry Kane arsenic he went for a volley successful nan box, and nan Bayern Munich man buried his spot footwear from 12 yards.

The 2nd half was a overmuch little breathtaking affair, but location was a infinitesimal of magic successful nan dying seconds.

Ollie Watkins, who had been brought connected for Kane, fired an inch-perfect volley home, sending nan bench, fans and players connected nan transportation into a momentous information of celebrations.

How it happened

Eyebrows were raised erstwhile Kieran Trippier was named astatine left-wing backmost again, contempt Luke Shaw’s return from nan chair successful nan quarter-final.

But nan Netherlands must person been expecting him to start, and they were targeting nan Newcastle man from nan very first second.

Donyell Malen was looking to usage his gait to get successful down nan seasoned defender and very astir did early on, only for nan Three Lions to beryllium rescued by nan offside flag.

It wasn’t Malen who scored nan opener though.

England were undone by Paris Saint-Germain’s Simons, who struck a genuinely awesome onslaught past Jordan Pickford.

XAVI 🇳🇱#EURO2024 | #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/TNz3CQcrCI

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 10, 2024

The chance came from Rice being dispossessed successful a vulnerable position, pinch Simons driving guardant towards extremity and was free to onslaught pinch nary defender closing him down.

It was a acquainted business for Gareth Southgate’s men, who besides went 1-0 down against Switzerland and Slovakia.

But it did not return agelong for them to respond, arsenic has been nan lawsuit passim nan tournament.

Captain Kane looked to occurrence a threat volley location aft Bukayo Saka was tackled successful nan box, but arsenic his effort flew complete nan bar, he was caught but a precocious ft from Dumfries.

Not galore thought it was a punishment upon first viewing, but nan referee was instructed to caput to nan show and he past pointed to nan spot.

There was ne'er immoderate uncertainty that Kane would hide his effort, contempt Bart Verbruggen diving nan correct way.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Most EURO last tourney goals for England:

⚽️7⃣ Alan Shearer
⚽️7⃣ Harry Kane#EURO2024 | #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/UPpaUyKq2e

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 10, 2024

England came truthful adjacent to a 2nd extremity done Phil Foden, who danced done a wall of orangish and poked past nan goalkeeper, only for Dumfries to extremity nan shot erstwhile it was inches distant from crossing nan line.

Inter Milan’s Dumfries was progressive again, this clip astatine nan different end.

He met a Dutch area and headed disconnected nan crossbar, leaving Pickford scrambling.

Foden was nan adjacent to deed nan woodwork. The Manchester City prima was fixed plentifulness of clip and abstraction connected nan separator of nan container and he coiled a left-footed strike, that smashed disconnected nan acold post.

England continued to predominate nan shot heading into nan break, but were struggling to break down a much protect Netherlands, who had replaced an injured Memphis Depay pinch Joey Veerman.

Changes were made for some sides astatine nan break, pinch Wout Weghorst and Luke Shaw some entering nan pitch.

The Dutch were contented to beryllium successful and sorb nan unit for overmuch of nan 2nd half.

England were struggling to break them down and successful nan overseas moments nan Netherlands did get nan ball, they looked vulnerable connected nan counter-attack.

Pickford was forced into a bully prevention by Virgil van Dijk, who latched connected to a heavy free-kick. The resulting area was headed complete by Dumfries, but nan Dutch were surely looking vulnerable astatine group pieces.

England had nan shot successful nan backmost of nan nett done Saka, but it was ruled retired very quickly for offside.

Walker delivered a bully shot into nan Arsenal man who turned it home, but nan erstwhile went somewhat early successful his run.

It looked definite that nan crippled was heading to extra-time, but up stepped Watkins.

Our #ThreeLions. Our #EURO2024 finalists! 🦁 pic.twitter.com/xFXHQi3Pcu

— England (@England) July 10, 2024

The Aston Villa man took nan shot pinch his backmost to extremity successful nan container and fired perfectly connected nan turn, leaving Verbruggen pinch nary chance.

There was an detonation of sound from nan Three Lions fans arsenic players spilt onto nan transportation astatine nan aforesaid time.

For nan 2nd clip successful arsenic galore tournaments, England had group up a European final.

What adjacent for England astatine Euro 2024?

Following their semi-final triumph against nan Dutch successful Dortmund, England will caput to Berlin for nan final.

They will return connected Spain, who person arguably been nan squad of nan tourney and overcame France successful nan semi-finals.

It will beryllium nan toughest trial of them each arsenic some sides look to assistance nan celebrated trophy successful nan German capital.

The crippled will return spot connected Sunday, 14 July astatine 8pm.