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Semi-final reaction: Watkins' winner moves England to brink of glory
Semi-final reaction: Watkins' winner moves England to brink of glory

Semi-final reaction: Watkins' winner moves England to brink of glory

England are 6-5 to win Euro 2024 after substitute Ollie Watkins' stunning late goal set up a final showdown with Spain in Berlin on Sunday.

 

The Three Lions are in their first-ever major overseas final thanks to the Aston Villa striker’s brilliant 90th-minute strike, which earned Gareth Southgate's side a deserved 2-1 win over the Netherlands.

 

For the third straight knockout match, England had to come from behind to progress after Xavi Simons' early goal was cancelled out by Harry Kane's penalty in Dortmund, but this was a much-improved display overall as Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Kobbie Mainoo all shone.

 

Spain will be tough opposition in the final and La Roja, who have won all of their six games in Germany, are 4-6 favourites to lift the trophy after they edged out France in Tuesday's first semi-final.

 

But England will fancy their chances of glory after making it to a second successive Euros final as they attempt to banish the memory of losing on penalties to Italy at Wembley three years ago.

 

England are 12-5 to win in normal time on Sunday, Spain are 6-4, while the draw to take the final to extra-time is 15-8.

 

Southgate has had plenty of criticism in the tournament so far as his side have struggled to show their best form, particularly early in the group stage during draws against Denmark and Slovakia.

 

However, he is now on the brink of becoming the first England manager to win a major trophy since 1966 and the way his side played on Wednesday - particularly in the first half when they controlled proceedings despite falling behind early - means they will take on Spain with plenty of confidence.

 

After Simons had lashed in the opener for the Dutch on seven minutes, the Three Lions responded well with Foden at the heart of their best work.

 

The equaliser came somewhat fortuitously as Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have caught Kane with his studs after the Bayern Munich man had fired a shot over the bar. 

 

VAR intervened and after referee Felix Zwayer pointed to the spot, Kane drilled home his third goal of the tournament from 12 yards.

 

The second half was more cagey as the Dutch dug in and denied England space in midfield, but Southgate's men were not to be denied as super sub Watkins, who said afterwards he visualised coming on and scoring, turned smartly inside the box and arrowed a low shot expertly past Bart Verbruggen in the Netherlands goal.

 

Once again England left it late but they demonstrated their resolve and mental toughness when they needed it most, and now the pre-tournament favourites have just one more hurdle to clear.