UEFA Euro 2024 Semi Final
Netherlands…….1
England……………2
Substitute Ollie Watkins secured a last-minute winner, ensuring England’s spot in the UEFA EURO 2024 final in a thrilling conclusion.
England are set to compete against Spain in the UEFA EURO 2024 final on Sunday after substitute Ollie Watkins’ late goal clinched victory over the Netherlands in Dortmund.
As is customary in Germany, the match began with a pyrotechnic display, but the on-field excitement soon outshone it. The game was just seven minutes in when Xavi Simons ignited the action, dispossessing Declan Rice and, despite stretching, unleashing a powerful shot past Jordan Pickford.
For the third consecutive knockout match, England fell behind. Their response was swift. Within 11 minutes, parity was restored as Harry Kane maintained The Three Lions’ flawless penalty record with a strike that left Bart Verbruggen helpless after Denzel Dumfries was penalised. So far, so intense. But the excitement didn’t end there.
Dumfries was quickly back in the thick of things, making a goal-line clearance to thwart Phil Foden. Moments later, the Dutch right-back was at the other end of the pitch, heading the ball against the crossbar. Foden, who was in excellent form, responded by hitting the post with a well-placed curling shot. It was an end-to-end game, but while the first half was an action-packed spectacle, the second half turned into a tense thriller.
The opportunities became scarce, yet the intensity and drama remained high. The Netherlands gradually started to dominate, but England fought back. As extra time seemed inevitable, there was a twist in stoppage time when Watkins received a pass from fellow substitute Cole Palmer, found a tiny gap, and fired a precise shot into the far corner. The Three Lions celebrated triumphantly. Next destination: Berlin.
