Ollie Watkins scored a brilliant 90th-minute winner as England came from a goal down to beat the Netherlands 2-1 and set up a European Championship final against Spain in Berlin on Sunday.
Substitute Watkins fired through the legs of Stefan de Vrij and inside the far post to book England’s place in a first showpiece on foreign soil at Euro 2024.
Xavi Simons put the Dutch ahead in the seventh-minute with a brilliant 25-yard strike after pickpocketing Declan Rice.
But for the third consecutive knockout game, England responded to falling behind when referee Felix Zwayer awarded a penalty for a foul on Harry Kane by Denzel Dumfries.
Kane made no mistake from the spot after Zwayer had been advised to consult his pitch-side monitor by the VAR.
Here’s how we rated the England players in Dortmund…
Jordan Pickford 7
Might have got something behind Simons’ strike but it was a brilliant hit. Made a smart save from Virgil van Dijk in the second half to keep England level.
Kyle Walker 7
Strayed narrowly offside when crossing for a disallowed goal by Bukayo Saka. Unflustered defensively and calm on the ball.
John Stones 7
Carried the ball out of defence well and dealt with the threat of Wout Weghorst in the second half, snuffing out one half-chance with an important challenge.
Marc Guehi 8
Composed and assured again, justifying Southgate’s decision to bring him straight back in for Ezri Konsa. England missed Harry Maguire’s height at set pieces in Dortmund but Guehi has been a fine deputy.
Kieran Trippier 5
Got into some good positions but his crossing with his weaker foot was tame. Hooked at half-time.
Declan Rice 6
Pickpocketed by Simons for the brilliant opening goal by responded well. Recycled the ball and was important in the dying minutes as England saw out the game.
Kobbie Mainoo 8
Drove forward with the ball and snapped into tackles in another enormously impressive display. Slipped in Foden for an effort which was cleared off the line.
Bukayo Saka 8
Electric from the right flank again in the first half, bursting inside repeatedly, including in the build-up to England winning the penalty. Unlucky to have a goal disallowed for a tight offside after the break.
Jude Bellingham 7
Relished the space afforded him by the Dutch set-up and was full of swagger on the ball in the early stages. But faded and looked increasingly leggy as the game went on.
Phil Foden 7
What more can he do to score in Germany? Had one cleared off the line, struck the outside of the post with a beautiful curling effort and forced a low save from Bert Verbruggen. Enjoyed the extra freedom of playing against a back-four in the first half but ineffective after the interval.
HOW HAS THAT NOT GONE IN?! 🤯
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 10, 2024
Foden is denied by Dumfries on the line ❌#Euro2024 | #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/rFloT7eZau
Harry Kane 7
Dispatched another nerveless penalty to level the game after he was caught by Dumfries. Testeed Verbruggen with a long-range sighter and blazed over a bar in a bright start, while also effective at dropping deeper. But, like Foden, subdued against a more compact Dutch side the second half and hooked before the end.
Subs
Luke Shaw (Trippier 45’) 6
Added some natural width but had few opportunities to get forward after the Dutch tightened up after the break. Put in one dangerous cross which fell to Palmer.
Cole Palmer (Foden 80’) 6
Blazed his one sight of goal over the bar, but provided the assist for Watkins’ late winner.
Ollie Watkins (Kane 81’) 8
England’s unlikely hero with an unerring finish at the death. Another iconic moment at these finals and could yet prove one of the biggest in English football history.
Conor Gallagher (Mainoo 90’) N/A
Came on for the final seconds.
Ezri Konsa (Saka 90’) N/A
See above.
