 "England's win over Netherlands was their most dominant display in Euro 2024. Reuters")
When going gets tough, the tough get going.
England had been a difficult team to break in Euro 2024 but also a side that lacked the incisiveness to carve open goalscoring opportunities. They reached the Euro semi-finals, having scored just five goals in five matches but against the Netherlands in the semi-final, the Three Lions put on their most convincing performance of the tournament to reach the final with a 2-1 win .
They trailed at the very start after Xavi Simons’ brilliant goal in the seventh minute from outside the box but bounced back with Harry Kane’s penalty equaliser in the 18th and Ollie Watkins’ late winner in extra time in a display full of swagger.
This was more like what the England supporters wanted and the critics.
Against the Netherlands, England weren’t the ‘boring’ side they had been branded after somehow getting past weaker teams in earlier matches.
The reward for it is a final against in-form Spain.
“We all want to be loved, right?” Southgate told in the post-match press conference. “When you are doing something for your country and you are a proud Englishman, when all you read is a criticism it is hard. To be able to celebrate a second final is very, very special.”
“We have given people some amazing nights, some of the best nights in 50 years.”
Against the Netherlands, England’s players gave a glaring display of their individual talents which had not been the case so far. It was as if England would score every time they entered the opponent’s box.
One of the star attackers, Phil Foden, who has experienced a lot of criticism recently had a chance cleared off the line.
The goal, however, came from a penalty kick.
Kane, who had forced a save from Bart Verbruggen and had a valley shot go over the bars, was brought down by Denzel Dumfries and after a VAR intervention the penalty was given netherland players, of course, did not agree to the decision.
Kane didn’t mind and scored into the bottom-left corner.
In the second half, England lost a bit of steam and the Netherlands held the lion’s share of possession. But the Three Lions kept looking dangerous and finally found the winner in the first minute of the stoppage time when Watkins took a pass from Cole Palmer with his back to the goal, turned back, and fired the ball into the far corner.
The Netherlands’ hearts were broken but England have once again reached a European championship final, four years after they did the same before losing to Italy on penalties.
Don’t forget, despite all the criticism for being boring, they have reached the quarter-finals in the last four major tournaments. They are the only European side to do so.
Next up, however, is Spain, who will be favourites to win, but England have shown: they can get the job done.