The England national team won dramatically in the Euro 2024 Germany semifinals held at Signal Iduna Park, on Thursday (11/07). The Three Lions won 2-1 over the Netherlands after falling behind.
England played with a 3-4-2-1 tactic and the Netherlands with a 4-3-3 formation. The surprise happened after only seven minutes of the match. England fell behind to a goal from Xavi Simons when he fired a shot from outside the penalty box that Jordan Pickford could not block. The Netherlands won 1-0.
"It was a fantastic strike. Simons did everything himself, won the ball and went three or four steps forward. The finish was incredible: Pickford was beaten by the pace of his strike," said football pundit Ally McCoist.
England, who had come from behind twice in their previous two games, kept their cool. They went forward in search of a goal and eventually paid off with an 18th-minute equaliser.
England were awarded a penalty after Denzel Dumfries fouled Harry Kane in the box. The Bayern Munich striker made no mistake and scored the equalizer. The score was tied at 1-1.
"There was a calm calculation to the penalty. It was a low shot with power - the keeper had no chance," said football pundit Lee Dixon.
The Netherlands had possession but the tempo was slow. They also had a chance in the 30th minute when Xavi Simons sent a corner kick, which Denzel Dumfries met, but his header was off target.
Likewise, Phil Foden's chance after receiving the ball from Bukayo Saka. His shot from outside the penalty box hit the crossbar and in the end the score 1-1 lasted until halftime.
The intensity of the match increased in the second half, especially with several substitutions, such as Ronald Koeman bringing on Wout Weghorst and Luke Shaw replacing Kieran Trippier.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was forced to make a brilliant save in the 65th minute. Starting from a free-kick situation taken by Joey Veerman, the ball was met by Virgil van Dijk who forced Pickford to make a save.
England and the Netherlands had an answer to find a second goal in the 80th minute when Gareth Southgate brought on two offensive players, Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins, who performed well last season with their respective clubs in the 81st minute.
Sure enough, the pair turned super-subs with the winning goal in the 90+1 minute. The Dutch defence was exposed, Palmer played the ball to Watkins and the Aston Villa striker unleashed a powerful shot that Bart Verbruggen could not stop.
The score was 2-1 for England who achieved a dramatic, but bitter victory for the Netherlands. England are through to the Euro 2024 final and will face Spain at the Olympiastadion Berlin, on Monday (15/07) at 00.30 IST.
Lineups
England (3-4-2-1): Jordan Pickford; Marc Guehi, John Stones, Kyle Walker; Kieran Trippier (Luke Shaw 46'), Declan Rice, Kobbie Mainoo (Conor Gallagher 90+3'), Bukayo Saka (Ezri Konsa 90+3'); Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden (Cole Palmer 81'); Harry Kane (Ollie Watkins 81')
Coach: Gareth Southgate
Netherlands (4-3-3): Bart Verbruggen; Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries (Joshua Zirkzee 90+3'); Tijjani Reijnders, Xavi Simons (Brian Brobbey 90+3'), Jerdy Schouten; Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay (Joey Veerman 35'), Donyell Malen (Wout Weghorst 46')
Coach: Ronald Koeman