England is back to back in the final of the Euro 2024 after eliminating the Netherlands in the semifinal 2-1 in the stoppage time Thanks to the feet of substitute striker Ollie Watkins.
The English team was able to excel on the field thanks to its stars, as well as the wise management of the match by coach Gareth Southgate, through which he was able to limit the stars of the Orange team, most notably the tournament’s top scorer, Cody Gakpo.
The match began at Signal Iduna Park with a German whistle from referee Felix zwayer, while the England team began to launch its attacks and explore the defenses of the Dutch team.
Star Xavi Simons surprised England after he cut the wrong ball and was able to shoot from outside the area, hitting goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 7th minute of the match.
The Three Lions team quickly recovered and returned through its striker, Harry Kane, who, with an individual effort, was able to obtain a penalty kick after interference from Inter Milan defender Denzel Dumfries. The referee of the match returned to clear the video assistant referee(VAR) to award a penalty kick, which Kane shot perfectly in the 18th minute.
The English team presented the first half offensively, and Phil Foden almost scored the lead goal after penetrating into the penalty area and was able to dodge Nathan Ake and shoot, but the Dutch team defender, Dumfries, saved it from the goal line.
The English completed their control of the field, with complete control over the midfield thanks to its stars Jude Bellingham and Kobbie Mainoo, as well as Declan Rice, amid the attacking absence of the Orange team.
Dumfries came close to making up for a mistake by scoring a goal for his country from a corner kick that he headed, but it hit the post.
Phil Foden almost scored again after dribbling through the defense and penetrating the shot with his precise and powerful left foot, but his ball hit the post, amid anguish from the England players, so the first half ended in a positive 1-1 draw.
In the second half, the Dutch team changed its playing style to take offensive risks, with coach Ronald Koeman withdrawing his striker Memphis Depay and bringing in the giant striker Wout Weghorst, while on the English side, Southgate activated the left front by bringing in Manchester United defender Luke Shaw instead of Kieran Trippier.
The English team dominated the beginning of the second half, but without a real threat to the Dutch team's goal until the Netherlands woke up again and attacked England.
Virgil van Dijk almost scored the lead goal for the Netherlands from a corner kick in the 65th minute, but it was blocked by English goalkeeper Pickford.
The English attack continued until Foden passed a smart ball to full-back Walker, who played a powerful cross, which Arsenal star Bukayo Saka shot into the net in the 79th minute before the German referee returned and canceled the goal for offside after returning to the VAR.
Southgate made offensive substitutions, withdrawing Harry Kane and Phil Foden, and bringing on Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer in the 80th minute of the match.
The English attack continued, taking advantage of the physical impact of the Dutch players, until substitute Palmer passed a ball between the defenses to substitute striker Watkins, who received the ball and shot at the goal powerfully in the 90th minute, taking the England team to the Euro 2024 final next Sunday.
With this qualification, England was able to reach the final for the second time in a row after defeat in the 2020 tournament against Italy.