Netherlands 1-2 England: Euro 2024 semi-final – live reaction | Euro 2024

Jonathan Wilson on Southgate’s masterclass.

Gary Neville was pleased Southgate made the big decision to bring Watkins on for captain Harry Kane.

Southgate has been criticised during the tournament for the timing of his substitutions while the form of Kane, and his continued place in the side, has also been a subject of debate.

Neville said: “We’ve questioned whether Gareth would make the substitution, get Harry Kane off in big moments. He’s gone and done it and it’s paid off big style.

“For me, we have got to trust him. He has delivered for us on many occasions. He has had a tough ride these last few weeks but they have got over the line.

“Over the years England have been called naive when they’ve played well and lost, but this team do whatever it takes. To get over the line was absolutely amazing. It’s what England teams haven’t been able to do in the past.”

No shortage of banter tweets …

Gavin Brown in Italy says: “…And the commentary itself was a highlight, from the lovely pronunciation of all the names to the focus on tactics and strategy. They clearly enjoyed the game and the goals.

“The studio analysis of the penalty after the game was the best highlight for me. One guy said it was because of the studs contacting and rules were rules so he’d give it. One in the studio said if it was a penalty then eventually all we’ll see is “Calcio passivo” and threw his arms up in the air saying football was supposed to be physical. The third studio guy said he thought it should have been given as it was too physical and all hell broke loose. As is tradition for Italian TV the host was a lady who was just there to look nice and she started shouting “Everyone let’s move on, we haven’t got all night”

“Brilliant stuff. Bring on Sunday!”

Virgil van Dijk is not happy with the referee.

The Killers celebrated the win, too.

In other news … the prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will be at the final in Berlin on Sunday.

The King has congratulated the England men’s football team on reaching the final of Euro 2024 – but has urged them to avoid more last-minute drama.

In a message to Gareth Southgate’s side following the Three Lions’ 2-1 win against the Netherlands, Charles sent the players the royal family’s “very best wishes” and “warmest congratulations”.

But the King quipped about the recent drama endured by England fans, including a last-gasp equaliser in the second round against Slovakia and a penalty triumph against Switzerland in the quarter-final, asking them to watch out for the nation’s blood pressure in the final clash with Spain.

He said: “My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the U.E.F.A. European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.
“If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated! Good luck, England.”

“Madness to hear all the haters for the “controversial” penalty decision,” emails Dom. “Studs up and missed the ball? Yeah.

“Meantime England had two goal-dependent decisions go against them. That’s football. The better team took the day.”

A generous decision, nonetheless.

Ronald Koeman. Did England deserve to win?: “First half, yes, second half, no, it was more 50:50. They created problems in the first half, we didn’t control how they played with Bellingham and Foden – we had to change midfield and then it was 50:50. In the last 20-25 minute, I thought our team was more fresh but they scored a great goal in final minute, that is football. We maybe deserved extra time but we can be proud because we had a great tournament.”

My neighbours are Dutch. They seem to have been out all evening.

Gareth Southgate: “I think it has to be the best achievement. The way we played – it was a complicated game, we had to keep changing defensively. The end is so special for the squad.

“Sometimes subs can work that way, the most important thing is every member of the squad is ready to come into the game. I’ve spent a lot of time with the players and their attitude has been exemplary.

“We felt energy wise, we gelt we were losing a bit of pressure. Ollie can press well and make those runs in behind.

“We also had Phil’s shot cleared off the line, a disallowed goal. We deserved it tonight.

“We were fluid in formation, Bukayo did a brilliant job. I think that is as well as Phil’s played in an England shirt, he had a huge influence on the game.

“You look at the numbers, it was like we were playing away but not with the noise.”

“Luck trumps talent eh?” says Krishna. “The travesty will be complete if England wins on Sunday. Why not? Kane may get another penalty because a Spain player came within 20 yards.”

“Who writes Southgate’s scripts?” asks Gary Naylor. “James Graham, who is updating his West End play ‘Dear England’ for an Autumn run. He’s not going to be short of material.”

Jude Bellingham: “It’s got to be up there. To be back here at the club that has helped me turn into the man and player I am is special. The most important thing is we have come out with the win. I am really grateful to Ollie because I am not sure I had another half an hour in me.

“The character is build from the first few games where we didn’t play well but we have come together and done the business.

“These moments are great, it brings us closer together as a family and team. These moments make us all together and take us into the final. I am so happy for Ollile, he came on and took his opportunity. We are buzzing for him; you come here, miss your holidays and don’t play all the time like you do at your club, so you need the right mentality and he has it.

“It will be interesting to go toe-to-toe with Spain.”

Karen Carney: “The fans have been absolutely brilliant. England were brilliant. First half, dominated, the midfield dominated. I never wanted an Aston Villa player to score more in my life. Every player has had their moment, so it’s been a brilliant evening.”

Harry Kane: “History made. Amazing achievement, I am so proud of every payer and staff, it’s been a really difficult tournament. There is one more left and we need to turn up on Sunday. Ollie has been waiting and patient, and what a finish. I think we were the better team, especially in the first half. We deserved to win overall. My foot is hanging off, so he definitely caught me. Sometimes you get them, sometimes you don’t. I was pleased to step up and score.

“We have one more game to make history, 90 minutes, penalties, whatever it takes.”

Will Southgate have a decision to make over who starts upfront in the final? I suspect he will keep it the same because I think Watkins is a better sub to have off the bench than Kane if the situation is similar to tonight.

Like Ollie Watkins, Jacob Steinberg kept his cool in Dortmund to file his report.

Ollie Watkins: “Unbelievable, I’ve been waiting for that moment for weeks. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get where I am today. I swear on my kids’ lives that I told Cole ‘we are going to come on today, and you are going to set me up’.

“We are in the final and that is all that matters. We are ready for Spain.”

“Southgate is ten years younger, maybe,” writes Simon McMahon, “but does he have a flare up his arse yet?”

Mainoo is decent. Maybe he’s even better in that position than Gallagher.

I’m going to hand over to Will Unwin for the reaction and have a peedie screen break. Thanks for your company tonight; sorry I didn’t have time to read half the emails, never mind use them!

England have come from behind in all three knockout ties, the first time they’ve ever done that at a major tournament.

They still aren’t playing fantasy football, although they were very good in the first half. But nothing – not even the performance of Pep Guardiola’s dreams, with 99 per cent possession – compares to the euphoria of comebacks and late winners.

Gareth Southgate is 10 years younger. He’s walking round with the kind of smile you couldn’t fake if you tried, playfully shadow-boxing one of the backroom staff.

Ollie Watkins looks slightly stunned. Whatever happens on Sunday, his life will never quite be the same after that. That’s his David Platt moment, except Watkins did it in a semi-final. And like Platt against Belgium, it was the finish of an expert, a cold-blooded killer.

“That Watkins goal was pure Jimmy Greaves,” says Kim Thonger. “The best ever.”

That’s a brilliant comparison, and quite the compliment.

Full time: Netherlands 1-2 England

90+5 min There were only two added minutes but that was before the goals and the substitutions.

90+4 min Who writes Gareth Southgate’s scripts? All the criticism of his passivity, and the two substitutes combine for the winning goal.

90+3 min: Substitutions galore

England Ezri Konsa and Conor Gallagher for Saka and Mainoo.

Netherlands Joshua Zirkzee and Brian Brobbey for Simons and Dumfries.

I don’t care about the revised line-ups.

90+2 min Simons is booked. Both teams are about to make subs.

England are on the brink of the Euro 2024 final after a wonderful finish from Ollie Watkins! Palmer, on the right, guided a good but simple pass into Watkins in the area. He had his back to goal, with De Vrij right behind him, and the angle was getting tighter with every stride. Watkins took a quick touch to his left, turned and rifled a stunning low shot into the far corner.

The angle was really tight – too tight really, what are you doing man – but Watkins nailed it. It went through the legs of De Vrij, which made it even harder for Verbruggen, but it was hit with such pace and precision that I’m not sure he’d have saved it anyway.

GOAL! Netherlands 1-2 England (Watkins 90+1)

88 min Shaw kills a crossfield pass beautifully and arrows a low cross that evades Watkins in the middle. The ball reaches Palmer, who wafts high and wide from the edge of the area.

87 min Hard to know what to make of this game. England were so good for half an hour, everything their fans want them to be, but the second half has been a bit of a non-event. They are a few minutes away from a third successive period of extra-time.

86 min The free-kick is further out than I realised – too far for a shot, maybe even for Ronald Koeman.

Veerman clips an excellent ball that is headed behind by Stones for… a goalkick. Van Dijk is booked for dissent.

85 min Simons leads another dangerous break and sweeps the ball across the field to Gakpo, who is tripped 25 yards from goal by Saka. The free-kick is a fair way to the left of centre, but it’s still a chance. Ronald Koeman would have scored from here…

Saka was booked by the way.

84 min Brillant move from the Dutch, staraight through the England press. Reijnders breaks into space on the left and crosses towards Weghorst, whose shot is superbly blocked by the off balance Guehi!

82 min Tense, nervous headache? Aye.

81 min These are the revised line-ups.

Netherlands (4-3-3) Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Veerman, Reijnders; Simons, Weghorst, Gakpo.

England (3-4-2-1) Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Palmer, Bellingham; Watkins.

80 min: Double substitution for England Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer replace a weary Harry Kane and Phil Foden.

Foden was terrific – a lot better than Bellingham, who is being kept on for his aura.

NO GOAL! The semi-automated offside confirms that Walker was a toenail ahead of the defence. It would have been a lovely team goal.

Semi-automated offside check! Foden played in the overlapping Walker, whose precise cutback was finished emphatically – nay, majestically by Saka. The flag went up, presumably against Walker, but it’s very tight.

79 min: Saka has a goal disallowed!