DORTMUND.- England advanced to their second successive Euro 2019 final on Wednesday, beating the Netherlands 2-1 thanks to substitute Ollie Watkins’ stoppage-time goal.
Watkins, who came on for captain Harry Kane in a reckless decision by manager Gareth Southgate, turned and fired a low shot in off the post in the first minute of stoppage time.
The English will face Spain on Sunday in the final in Berlin. It will be England’s first trophy match on foreign soil – they won the 1966 World Cup final against Germany and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 decider, both times at Wembley.
In a first half with goal-scoring opportunities on both sides of the pitch, Kane converted a penalty in the 18th minute to level the score, brilliantly opened by Xavi Simons in the 7th.
Watkins had only featured once before at Euro 2024, as a substitute in the group game against Denmark. So it was a surprise that Southgate handed him the responsibility of finishing off the team’s biggest game so far this season.
The bet worked.
The supporters who painted the giant South Stand of the Westfalenstadion orange were silent. It was in this area that the most fervent supporters of the Netherlands were stationed, taking over the city centre before marching in their thousands to the stadium for the match.
Police reported three separate clashes between supporters of the two teams in the city.
It seemed like the Netherlands were playing at home. It was another setback England have had to overcome, coming from behind to advance in the last 16 and quarter-finals before 21-year-old Simons became the Dutch’s second-youngest scorer at a Euro.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder stole the ball from Declan Rice about 40 yards from goal, advanced and unleashed a shot from outside the area towards the top corner.
Compared to Spain’s 16-year-old new star Lamine Yamal, Simons is a veteran. But this was another case of a young player shining on a major Euro stage.
Kane again:
Kane has had many great moments at prestigious tournaments. He produced another when he converted a penalty after Denzel Dumfries stuck out a leg and made contact with the England striker’s foot as he was about to shoot.
After a dynamic first half, in which Dumfries and England’s Phil Foden hit the post, came a tense second half, in which opportunities were scarce.
Bukayo Saka had a goal ruled out for being offside, before Kane came on for Watkins in what will go down as one of Southgate’s best decisions of his eight-year tenure.
Source: AP
