European Championships 2024 - England wins against the Netherlands and is in the final
England ended the big Orange Party at the Euros very late and is now just one step away from its first major title in 58 years. With a goal in stoppage time, Gareth Southgate's squad, featuring Bayern striker Harry Kane and Champions League winner Jude Bellingham, defeated the Netherlands on Wednesday in the semifinals with a 2:1 (1:1) score.
Kane (18th minute/penalty) and the substitute Ollie Watkins (90.+1) turned the game around for the team after an early setback. Unlike in previous games, the Three Lions showed their footballing class for at least the first half and delivered their best tournament performance.
England faces Germany's World Cup winners Spain in the final at the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Sunday (9 p.m./ARD and MagentaTV). For the first time, England will be in a major final that doesn't take place at home. In 1966, England, self-proclaimed motherland of football, won the World Cup at Wembley Stadium against Germany. Three years ago, they lost in the Euro final at the same venue to Italy in a penalty shootout. Now, the long-awaited second major title is at hand.
For the Netherlands, the dream of a second European Championship triumph in Germany since 1988 has been shattered. The team, led by coach Ronald Koeman, could not build on Xavi Simons' (7th minute) dream goal.
Long Live Spain at the Fan March
The football festivities in Dortmund didn't begin with the evening game but started around noon. Around 100,000 Dutch fans transformed the city into a massive party zone. Oranje dominated completely. Former professional Wesley Sneijder, aboard the now legendary fan bus, led the jubilant crowd to the left and right.
At the largest fan march in the city's history, Oranje agreed. Cheerfully, the fans chanted "Eviva España". The English, with 25,000 fans also present in good numbers, were outnumbered for the first time at this Euro.
Fast-paced game from the start
The Dutch team put on a dream start. Simons stole the ball from Declan Rice in the English half, ran a few meters, and hit the crossbar with a powerful shot in an entertaining fashion.
England's tactic, which focused on control and defensive stability in previous games, was now outdated. The Three Lions had to respond - and they did. Led by Captain Kane, England pressed for the quick equalizer.
First, the Bundesliga top scorer failed with a long-range shot against the Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, then he was fouled by Denzel Dumfries in the penalty area.
Kane fell, referee Felix Zwayer looked at the scene again on video, and decided on a penalty. The fouled player himself converted with a precise low shot and became the sole EM record scorer in knockout matches. England's record in the once feared discipline remains perfect at this tournament. After the point won against Switzerland, their record now reads: six attempts, six goals.
England plays offensively strong for the first time in a long while
The refereeing decision of Zwayer was met with skepticism in England before the game. During his time at Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham had criticized and verbally attacked the now 43-year-old after a loss against Bayern. This time, the superstar at least seemed satisfied with the penalty call.
Before the eyes of British music icons Adele and Ed Sheeran, England pressed on. The Southgate-Team was hardly recognizable, showing the best performance in terms of creativity and offensive drive in the tournament so far. Above all, the very agile Phil Foden caused alarm in front of the Dutch goal. First, Dumfries on the line prevented the English captain (23.) from scoring after a finish by Foden (24.). Then, Foden's long-range shot hit the Dutch goalpost (32.).
Second Half with Less Action
The half-time whistle brought not only a breathing pause, but also a small break in the game. The singing fans were now offered no major attacking action. Instead, long ball possessions shaped the game. A header by the Dutch captain Virgil Van Dijk from a free-kick was saved by Pickford at the corner (65).
Overall, the Dutch had more control. However, they did not manage it once. Kyle Walker passed from the right into the center and Bukayo Saka scored what was supposed to be the 2:1 for England - the Koeman team was lucky that Walker was supposedly offside. The game then turned in favor of the Three Lions. In stoppage time, Joker Watkins made the English fans ecstatic.
In the semifinal match, Germany's World Cup winners Spain will face England at the Berlin Olympic Stadium on Sunday, seeking their first major title since 1964. The Dutch team, led by coach Ronald Koeman, hoped to secure a second European Championship triumph in Germany, a feat last achieved in 1988, but their dreams were shattered after a 2:1 loss against the Three Lions.
Bayern striker Harry Kane scored the opening penalty for England in the 18th minute, followed by substitute Ollie Watkins' goal in stoppage time, turning the game around for the team. England's tactic, focusing on control and defensive stability in previous games, was challenged by the Netherlands, who put on an entertaining dream start with Xavi Simons' powerful shot hitting the crossbar in the 7th minute.
In Dortmund, Dutch fans transformed the city into a massive party zone, dominating the fan march with 100,000 supporters cheering for "Eviva España" as Spain faced one of their biggest rivals. The English fans, although outnumbered, were present in good numbers, creating a vibrant atmosphere for the Euros.
England's record in the once feared penalty shootout discipline remains perfect at this tournament. The football festivities in Dortmund began around noon, and the Dutch team's fast-paced game from the start was hardly recognizable in the Southgate-Team, which showcased its best offensive performance in the tournament so far.
The refereeing decision of Felix Zwayer, met with skepticism before the game, was a turning point in the match. Jude Bellingham, who previously criticized Zwayer, seemed satisfied with the penalty call, and the referee's decision allowed England to dominate the game, with Adele and Ed Sheeran witnessing the team's impressive performance.
The second half of the game featured less action, with long ball possessions and few major attacking moments. The Dutch captain Virgil Van Dijk attempted a header from a free-kick, which was saved by Pickford at the corner, while the English fans' anticipation for a decisive goal grew. In stoppage time, Ollie Watkins delivered the winning goal, securing England's place in the final and moving one step closer to their first major title in 58 years.
