England will meet Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday after defeating the Netherlands 2-1. England has reached its second Euro final and third major tour final.
Netherlands scored one goal in the 7th minute to start the encounter. After England made a mistake, Xavi Simons fired a powerful strike from outside the penalty area into the net. England fought hard and played their best tournament game.
Harry Kane nearly equalised with a long shot, but Dumfries fouled it in the box. Kane equalised 1-1 in the 18th minute with a penalty.
Foden’s run and shot almost scored for England in the second half, but Dumfries cleared. The Netherlands had a chance to equalise when Dumfries’ header hit the bar.
Second Half and Dramatic Finish:
The second 45 minutes had few chances and both teams looked fatigued. England custodian Jordan Pickford saved Virgil van Dijk’s near-post shot. England advanced to the final as Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp winner sent the contest to extra time. The replacement Cole Palmer helped Watkins hit a powerful ground shot that went into the lower corner of the net, delighting English fans.
Reactions and Forecast:
Watkins smiled, “Unbelievable — I’ve been waiting for that moment for weeks. The England captain said, “It’s going to be unbelievably tough – a really difficult game.” One more historic game.
The final between England and Spain will be the English team’s biggest final away from home since 1966. This triumph also helped the team and coach Gareth Southgate silence critics who called him overly cautious. After the win, Southgate said, “To be able to give them a night like tonight, it’s very special.
Conclusion:
England’s success against the Netherlands positions the teams for a fantastic final against Spain. Both teams are in top form, so fans can expect an exciting contest as England pursues history in Berlin.
