The Three Lions beat the Oranje on Wednesday evening (2-1) in the semi-final of Euro 2024 and secured their ticket to the tournament final on Sunday against Spain.
Published on: 10/07/2024 – 23:03Modified on: 10/07/2024 – 23:49
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England, finally showing some teeth, broke the Netherlands (2-1) in added time of a tight semi-final on Wednesday July 10, to play the Euro-2024 final against Spain, three years after the one they lost against Italy at home.
In Dortmund, where the balance of power in the stands was unfavourable to them, the “Three Lions” tamed the orange wave of opposing supporters and extinguished Dutch hopes, disappointed again for the fourth time in a row at this stage of the competition (after 1992, 2000, 2004).
The English won this battle of every moment with heart and their talent, that of the bench from which Ollie Watkins came out to crucify Ronald Koeman’s band in the 90th+1.
At the final whistle, captain Harry Kane, whom he replaced, was the first to throw himself into the arms of the Aston Villa striker, followed by a furious and joyous band of cheering players. “There is one more game to go to make history,” Kane told ITV. “It’s been a tough journey, but it’s still a game. 90 minutes, 120 minutes, penalties, whatever it takes, we’ll be there. I can’t wait.”
“Sweet Caroline”, the English fans’ anthem, captivated the stands occupied by the latter, drunk with joy, and not only. They saw their team as if resurrected after a more than sluggish tour, animated by a spirit and harmony not yet seen in Germany.
Credit also goes to coach Gareth Southgate, who was bold in his changes during the match, despite the heavy pressure on his shoulders.
His players will face Spain on Sunday in Berlin, in the first final played by England away from home. They will hope to do better than in 2021 against Italy (defeated on penalties), and as well as their elders from 1966, world champions on home soil.
Also read: Euro 2024: knocked out by Spain, France leaves without shining
Memphis Depay’s exit in the first half
In the game, it took until the last four, and their toughest opponent so far, to see the English finally wake up, with the key to forward-looking and exciting football, especially before half-time.
Up front, there was movement, ideas and clear chances, in short, everything that had been missing until then. It was necessary to wait for Jude Bellingham’s goal in added time to see their first shot on target against Slovakia (2-1 ap), the same against Switzerland (1-1, 5-3 tab) with Bukayo Saka’s equaliser.
As a good captain, Harry Kane this time got his sights on the target in the first quarter of an hour with a sharp shot pushed away by Bart Verbruggen (13th). The problem was that the Netherlands were already leading at that point. Earlier, Xavi Simons had come to steal the ball from Declan Rice’s feet to send a heavy shot into the net, sliding (7th, 1-0).
Not defeated, however, England took the game into their own hands, particularly under the baton of Phil Foden. In his preferred axial position, the Manchester City playmaker wandered between the lines and posed a constant threat. He slalomed in the area and saw his shot blocked on the line by Denzel Dumfries (23rd), hit a post (32nd) and forced Verbruggen to save (39th).
The equaliser did not come from him, however, but from a run-in by Bukayo Saka. The ball ended up in front of Harry Kane, the captain volleyed it before collapsing, hit in his tracks by Denzel Dumfries’ foot. The video convinced the referee to award a penalty.
Harry Kane fired it hard, low to the ground near a post (18th, 1-1), pushing back the painful memory of his failure from eleven meters against France in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
The Netherlands also had chances, including a header from Dumfries on the top of the crossbar (30th) and a shot from Virgil van Dijk pushed away by Jordan Pickford (65th). But they lacked that little extra that the English had on Wednesday. Memphis Depay’s injury-induced exit in the first half did not help them.
With AFP
