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Preview: England face Denmark in the Euro 2020 semi-finals at Wembley on Wednesday with a success-starved nation willing them on to reach their first major final for 55 years as Italy await the winner. Gareth Southgate’s side are bidding to reach the European Championship final for the first time as they try to banish the ghosts of England’s ill-fated past. But they will face a Denmark side fuelled by a sense of destiny and desire since Christian Eriksen had to be resuscitated on the pitch in their opening game against Finland. Both sides will be playing in front of 60,000 mostly England fans for the right to play Italy, who beat Spain 4-2 on penalties at Wembley after a gripping 1-1 draw on Tuesday. Since winning the 1966 World Cup, England have reached only four major semi-finals, including at Euro 1996, when Southgate infamously missed a crucial penalty in the shoot-out against Germany. Those agonising defeats have been etched in the psyche of English football ever since. But Southgate has overseen the emergence of a vibrant young team unconcerned by the trials and tribulations of their failed predecessors in the England shirt. Yet to concede a goal in their five matches in the tournament, England underlined their potential with a 2-0 last-16 win against old rivals Germany before routing Ukraine 4-0 in Rome. Now they are back on home turf for the Denmark showdown and, with the final also in London, Southgate knows the Three Lions have a golden opportunity to make history. “We don’t have as a good a football history as we like to believe sometimes,” he said. “These players are making massive strides and breaking barriers all the time. We have broken barriers in this tournament and we have another opportunity to do that tomorrow.” England has been gripped by Euro fever since the cathartic victory against Germany and millions in homes and pubs across the country will tune in for the Denmark match. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: “Today is the day. Come on England!” while Prince Charles posted a good luck message accompanied by a clip of a military band playing England’s iconic “Three Lions” anthem. Captain Harry Kane, who has scored three goals in his past two games, said England must prove they can deliver in front of the biggest crowd at a sporting event since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. “We can talk as much as we want but the bottom line is we have to go out there and perform,” he said. Wave of emotion Surprise semi-finalists Denmark, who won Euro 92, can count on the support of many outside England after their emotional campaign. Rocked by the cardiac arrest suffered by their star midfielder Eriksen, Denmark went into their final group game without a point. But, with Eriksen on the mend after the shocking incident, Kasper Hjulmand’s team have embarked on a three-match winning run that has taken them to a first semi-final in 29 years. Eriksen has been invited to the Wembley final by UEFA and Hjulmand has urged his underdogs to make it a date with their team-mate. “We still play for and with him. There’s no doubt about that. That’s the only thing I can say about Christian,” he said. “It’s really something that makes us do as much as we can. I hope that if he comes to the final that we’re going to be playing it. It would be amazing.” On Tuesday Italy, who failed even to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, booked their place in the final after a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Spain at Wembley. Federico Chiesa gave Italy the lead with half an hour to go only for Spain substitute Alvaro Morata to equalise with 10 minutes to go. Manuel Locatelli and Dani Olmo exchanged misses to start the shoot-out before the much-maligned Morata’s effort was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma and Jorginho converted Italy’s winner. “Almost nobody believed we could do it and yet we are in the final, so we are pleased for Italians everywhere,” said Mancini. With inputs from AFP
Highlights, England vs Denmark Euro 2020 semi-final at London: England clinch victory thanks to Harry Kane penalty
Catch the LIVE score and updates from Euro 2020 semi-final match between England and Denmark
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That’s all for tonight. Hope you have enjoyed our coverage. It was a memorable day for England but they will aim to make it more memorable on Sunday.
England vs Italy at Wembley for the title.
We will be back again for the final so do join us. Be safe and take care!
ENG 2-1 DEN
For the first time since 1966, England will play in a first major final. It wasn’t their best display but they did enough to score two goals and restrict their opponents to just one. Their second goal came from a controversial penalty. It did look like a soft one but it is what it is. Denmark started the game really well with Damsgaard scoring the opening goal from a sensational free-kick but conceded ten minutes later, an own goal from Simon Kjaer. They pushed hard for the second goal but failed to find one.
Wembley crowd had a blast supporting the home team.
ENG 2-1 DEN
It’s all over! England are the winners of this semi-final and they will play Italy in the final of Euro 2020.
118’ ENG 2-1 DEN
England doing well just to keep the ball. The Wembley crowd cheering every kick. Two more minutes remaining in the extra-time.
115’ ENG 2-1 DEN
Smart turn and shot taken by Braithwaite. Pickford gets his gloves in contact with the ball. Corner for Denmark but England clear the ball away.
112’ ENG 2-1 DEN
Denmark working to break England’s defensive shape but the final ball is missing.
106’ ENG 2-1 DEN
One more substitution for England. Trippier replaces Grealish. Looks like a tactical one from England manager.
105’ ENG 2-1 DEN
The first period of extra-time ends. It was Sterling’s brilliant run that made the difference. His sprint was checked by Maehle in the box and the referee pointed towards the spot. It looks a soft one in replays but VAR thought there’s is enough contact. Kane stepped up, Schmeichel saved his shot but couldn’t do much with the rebound.
104’ ENG 2-1 DEN
GOAAAALL!
Harry Kane scores! The first shot is saved but Kane doesn’t miss the rebound.
103’ ENG 1-1 DEN
The VAR has a look and the decision stays.
101’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Penalty for England. Sterling fouled in the box.
98’ ENG 1-1 DEN
England on the attack. Jack Grealish with a thumping shot but can’t beat the goalkeeper. Seconds later Sterling tries a similar shot but it’s way off the target. Denmark are feeling the pressure.
96’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Two changes for England. Jordan Henderson replaces Declan Rice. Mason Mount makes way for Phil Foden.
94’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Harry Kane with a chance but Schmeichel with the low save to deny the England captain. Walker with a brilliant ball from the right.
Extra-time Euro 2020
91’ ENG 1-1 DEN
So, play in the extra-time begins. Denmark with the kickoff.
ENG 1-1 DEN
England were the better side in the second-half as Danish players looked tired but did enough to force the game into the extra-time.
ENG 1-1 DEN
Full-time! No goals in the second-half so we will have 30 more minutes of extra-time.
90+5’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Mason Mount’s free-kick from the right. Maguire with the header again but Kasper Schmeichel does well to stop the ball.
90+3’ ENG 1-1 DEN
England keeping the Denmark players on toes. Phillips tries a long-ranger but it’s poor one. The ball flies over Denmark goalkeeper.
90’ ENG 1-1 DEN
The fourth official signals six minutes of additional time.
88’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Denmark players look exhausted. This is why the 5+1 substitutions are really important for the teams. Thomas Delaney is replaced by Mathias Jensen.
84’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Mason Mount wins a free-kick on the left. Shaw takes guard and sends the ball in. Maguire again does well to head the ball towards the goal but it’s wide. England are the better team at the moment.
80’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Christensen hasn’t looked comfortable since he picked up a knock ten minutes back. He has been replaced by Jochim Andersen.
75’ ENG 1-1 DEN
England players want a penalty for a foul on Harry Kane in the box. It looks a close one but referee instead gives a free-kick to Denmark. Not sure he got this one right.
74’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Yellow card to Daniel Wass for a foul on Jack Grealish. Meanwhile, Mount’s cross ends up being an awkward one for Danish goalkeeper who tips it over the bar. Nothing comes from the resulting corner.
69’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Changes for both teams.
Damsgaard is out and he’s replaced by Yussuf Poulsen. Norgaard comes in for Dolberg. Jen Stryger goes out and Daniel Wass comes in. For England, Saka walks out and he’s replaced by Jack Grealish. The crowd and England manager appreciate the Saka’s effort tonight.
64’ ENG 1-1 DEN
England with short and crisp passes in Denmark’s half. Mason Mount heavily involved in the link-up plays along with Kane and Sterling but Denmark’s defence is not losing the shape.
59’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Shot from Dolgerg but it’s a simple save by Pickford. Love watching how both Dolberg and Damsgaard create space in tight places and go for the shots.
56’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Solid save from Schmeichel again. Mason Mount sends in the ball from free-kick on the right. Maguire times his jump and gets the power behind the header but Schmeichel dives to his right and palms it away.
53’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Excellent play from Dolberg who takes the pass with his back behind, creates space and shoots a powerful one but Pickford saves with his outstretched hand.
50’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Free-kick to England after Vestergaard fouls Saka. Mount takes it from the right side. Maguire goes for the header but he fouls Kjaer. Referee shows yellow card to Maguire for a raised arm during the challenge.
46’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Second-half begins at the Wembley. No changes for both the teams.
ENG 1-1 DEN
A lively half of football with England finishing on a high. They allowed Denmark to dominate after 20 minutes and then Damsgaard scored a sensational free-kick to give Denmark the lead in the game. Ten minutes later, Kane, Saka and Sterling combined to put Denmark skipper Simon Kjaer under pressure and it resulted in an own goal.
ENG 1-1 DEN
And we will have a break. It’s half-time.
43’ ENG 1-1 DEN
Just moments after Sterling almost equalised, with Schmeichel pulling off a great save, England are back in it. Kane puts in a perfect pass for Saka who race onto down the flank. The Arsenal midfielder’s cutback is for Sterling in the middle of the area, but it hits the Danish skipper and the ball rolls into the net.
40’ ENG 1-1 DEN
GOAAL! England equalise. And it is an own goal from Simon Kjaer.
37’ ENG 0-1 DEN
Kane challenged by Delaney, giving England a freekick from a promising position. Sterling tries to bend the freekick over the wall but Kjaer heads powerfully clear.
34’ ENG 0-1 DEN
It starts with Mount conceding a free-kick for a foul on Dolberg. Braithwaite takes it but this time Shaw fouls on Christensen. Damsgaard is the one standing behind the ball for the second free-kick. He takes aim and unleashes a powerful right-footer to beat Pickford.
This is the first goal England concede in this tournament. Could it be costly?
31’ ENG 0-1 DEN
GOAAAL!
Denmark with the first goal of the match after a stunning free-kick from Damsgaard.