England left it late but beat Netherlands on Wednesday night to win their Euro 2024 semi-final.
Ollie Watkins, who didn’t play top flight club football until the age of 24, scored the decisive goal in the 90th minute to deliver arguably England men’s greatest moment in 58 years.
It is now back-to-back European Championship finals for the Three Lions and a first ever final achieved on foreign soil after home advantage was a helping hand in both 1966 and 2021.
Usually so proudly yellow, Dortmund was unmistakably Oranje before kick-off.
Fan zone in town so packed with Dutch fans that stewards not letting any more in. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/JOk9mvt8vs
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) July 10, 2024
When u walk out the train station into a moving wall of orange pic.twitter.com/cm2ToZPKv7
— Scott Saunders (@__scottsaunders) July 10, 2024
When the game got going, it wasn’t long before the Orange Wall had something to celebrate.
An 𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 strike 🇳🇱
Xavi Simons brings pure Dutch delight to Dortmund! ⚽️#Euro2024 | #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/PNKwNbQcUr
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 10, 2024
😳⚡️ Xavi Simons golazo, his first goal at the Euros… and it’s against England! pic.twitter.com/IMy3Ui0SE6
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 10, 2024
Power aside, it did look within reach for Jordan Pickford.
Xavi Simons looked up and this is what he saw: pic.twitter.com/lddIWaLK0q
— . (@tsnmknd) July 10, 2024
England’s equaliser was a gift.
Was Dumfries supposed to let him score without intervening? Going to the ball like that was the only way to disturb Kane’s shot. People talking about contact but it’s a contact sport not basketball. He got the shot off and missed.
The game is fully gone. pic.twitter.com/p3xV1irIUK
— TREQUARTISTA (@TatticaPassata) July 10, 2024
Kane kicks Dumfries’ foot
That’s a free kick to Holland
Scandalous penalty
— Carlo Garganese (@carlogarganese) July 10, 2024
Kane had no reason to care whether it should have been given and converted with aplomb.
Gareth felt that one 😤#NEDENG pic.twitter.com/ItwV7TzHSh
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 10, 2024
England, and particularly Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo, came to life after that.
Foden & Mainoo have been fantastic! #EURO2024
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 10, 2024
Kobbie + Foden pure silk…. #EURO2024
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) July 10, 2024
Phil Foden so close to giving England the lead… twice.
One cleared off the line. And another stunning strike, similar to Lamine Yamal’s goal last night, but this one comes back off the post.🏴 pic.twitter.com/sVBTqu9jPV
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 10, 2024
Kobbie Mainoo so important for #ENG, tackling and intercepting, using the ball intelligently, breaking the lines, and linking well with Foden. Mainoo’s futsal experience, the enhanced touches and decision-making, on parade. 1-1 h-t #NEDENG #EURO2024
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) July 10, 2024
No player on the pitch made more interceptions or key passes than Kobbie Mainoo in the first half#NEDENG | #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/dsx80c9xnF
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 10, 2024
Half-time came. IYKYK.
That extended Gillette advert 🥰
— Si Lloyd (@SmnLlyd5) July 10, 2024
Ronald Koeman called for Wout Weghorst to begin the second half.
WOUT HAS ENTERED THE FIELD OF PLAY.
Engage the Big Man Protocols.
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) July 10, 2024
“They have the highest average height… of humans.”
— HLTCO (@HLTCO) July 10, 2024
England didn’t have quite the same verve after the break.
Gareth Southgate gave England the hairdryer at half time after being disgusted with the attacking football they played in the first half.
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 10, 2024
Having scored his penalty, Kane was otherwise proving really quiet.
Is Southgate trying to prove how England are so much better than anyone that they can even win games with Kane on the pitch? 🏴
— Matt Scott (@Matt5cott) July 10, 2024
Southgate letting things drift again.
Kane a passenger— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) July 10, 2024
Bukayo Saka’s would-be winner was chalked off due to a narrow offside in the build-up.
Bukayo Saka thought he’d given England the lead – but it’s ruled out for offside ❌
More changes soon after as Kane and Foden are replaced by Palmer and Watkins.#NEDENG #BBCEuros #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/wDhQ4HAPRK
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 10, 2024
Eventually Foden (and Kane) came off.
Foden was having his best game, change of formation totally killed him and now he’s hooked. Shame
— Kathryn Batte (@KathrynBatte) July 10, 2024
Ollie Watkins was one of those who came on. But extra-time (again) looked a given…until…
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
Apparently, he just knew.
🗣️ ‘I said to Cole Palmer, “We’re coming on today and you’re going to set me up.” 🔮
Ollie called it.#Euro2024 | #NEDENG | 🎙️ @gabrielclarke05 pic.twitter.com/ywUXkXctTd
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 10, 2024
For all the stick he’s had, it was Southgate’s substitutes won it for England.
Two of Gareth Southgate’s substitutes set up the winning goal.
He’s taken them to another final! #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/BVWdP9Qi1m
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 10, 2024
Assist: Palmer
Goal: WatkinsSouthgate is a genius. #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/NILElqsj9S
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) July 10, 2024
First for England’s men, but yes it’s absolutey huge for international football’s historic bottlejobs.
Gareth Southgate becomes the first manager to take England to two major tournament finals.
He is also the first to lead the team to a final outside of England. 🏴👏 pic.twitter.com/lXh4uTtfLM
— The Coaches’ Voice (@CoachesVoice) July 10, 2024
Finales de Inglaterra entre 1930 y 2016 (86 años): 1
Finales de Inglaterra en sus 8 años con Southgate: 2See you in Berlin next Sunday. pic.twitter.com/GNg2bEC02m
— MisterChip (Alexis) (@2010MisterChip) July 10, 2024
See you, Sunday, indeed.