Ollie Watkins scores a 91st-minute winner against Netherlands to send England into the final of Euro 2024, with Spain their opponents in Sunday’s showpiece event.
England booked their spot in the final of Euro 2024 courtesy of a 2-1 success over Netherlands in the competition’s second semi-final on Wednesday night.
Xavi Simons sent Netherlands into a seventh-minute lead with a stunning strike from distance, but Harry Kane levelled the scores with a controversial penalty in the 18th minute.
The last-four contest looked to be heading for an additional 30 minutes, only for Ollie Watkins to come off the bench to register a 91st-minute winner for Gareth Southgate‘s side.
England will now tackle Spain in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final, with the Three Lions bidding to go one better than Euro 2020, when they lost on penalties to Italy.
HAS OLLIE WATKINS WON IT FOR ENGLAND?! 🏴🏴🏴
ASTON VILLA’S OLLIE WATKINS IS A SUPERSTAR SHOOTER! 🤩🎯#Euro2024 | #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/67Zpbwg6QQ
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 10, 2024
Watkins the hero for England against Netherlands
To say that Watkins has had to be patient at Euro 2024 is an understatement, with the 28-year-old only featuring for 20 minutes at the tournament ahead of the semi-final.
Watkins scored 27 times for Aston Villa last season, though, and he came up trumps for his country in the semi-final with a wonderful finish into the bottom corner.
The forward was introduced for Kane in the 81st minute, and 10 minutes later, it was his night.
Netherlands centre-back Stefan de Vrij would have been relatively comfortable with his position after Watkins was fed by Cole Palmer inside the penalty box, but the England striker tuned away from the defender before firing one into the bottom corner to spark jubilant scenes.
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Netherlands will feel aggrieved by penalty award
Simons sent Netherlands ahead with a wonderful effort in the seventh minute, but England were level 11 minutes later from the penalty spot, with Kane picking out the bottom corner.
The award of the spot kick was controversial, though, with Denzel Dumfries challenging Kane; the referee was happy for the play to continue, but after intervention from VAR, he was sent to the monitor.
At that stage, only one decision was likely, but whether it was a clear and obvious error from the referee is a subject that will be discussed in the aftermath of this contest.
Netherlands had started well, and England then kicked on after levelling, with Phil Foden having one cleared off the line by the impressive Dumfries and then rattling an effort against the post.
Dumfries hit the woodwork himself with a header, and Netherlands would have been preparing for extra-time before the incredible Watkins winner in the final exchanges.
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England make it back-to-back European Championship finals
It was not to be in the final of Euro 2020, with England losing on penalties to the Italians.
However, Southgate’s side will now have another chance to win their first European Championship title, and luck has certainly been on their side over the course of the tournament.
England thought that they had scored a second in the 79th minute through Bukayo Saka, but his effort was disallowed for an offside on Kyle Walker.
The Three Lions were not to be denied, though, and now they must tackle Spain, who have been the tournament’s most impressive outfit by some distance.
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What next for Netherlands and England?
Netherlands bow out of the European Championship at the semi-final stage, but the national side can certainly take plenty of encouragement from what has been a successful tournament, having reached the final four for the first time since 2004.
Head coach Ronald Koeman has a contract until July 2026, and the 61-year-old’s attention will soon switch to the start of the UEFA Nations League, with Holland opening their campaign against Bosnia-Herzegovina on September 7.
England, meanwhile, have reached Sunday’s final against Spain, and Southgate’s side will be bidding to make it a historic night for the Three Lions.
The manager’s team selection will again be the subject of debate, but aside from Luke Shaw, it could be a case of as you were, with the England bench again potentially having a big part to play.
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