After a night of high drama in Dortmund, England are through to the European Championship final and will face Spain in Berlin. The 2-1 win against the Netherlands – thanks to a last-minute genius strike from substitute Ollie Watkins – is celebrated across Thursday’s UK newspapers.
An image of Watkins – with his arm around Marc Guéhi – dominates the Guardian front page. “Holland-daze. Watkins puts England in dreamland” is the headline, with chief sports writer Barney Ronay noting that as the ball was hammered home, the stadium “just exploded, a huge wave of noise barrelling down from the England end”.
The final seconds of the nail-biting match are captured in all their glory across the Guardian’s back page. England celebrate, assured of victory, while the Netherlands look on despondently. “Olé, Olé, Ollie!” is the headline.
Guardian Sport: Olé, Olé, Ollie! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/ZEhLicreBa
— George Mann (@sgfmann) July 10, 2024
“Here we go again!” is the i’s assessment. Above an image of Harry Kane embracing Watkins – who was subbed on to replace the England captain in the 80th minute – the paper states “Southgate vindicated as his substitutions win England the game”.
Thursday's front page: Water firms told to refund customer bills if they fail to tackle sewage
— i newspaper (@theipaper) July 10, 2024
Latest from @luciemheath and @RichardVaughan1 here: https://t.co/rUlCaSaORn pic.twitter.com/HMc4ooq0gz
The view is shared on the Times back page as well, with the headline “Southgate roars again”.
The paper quotes Watkins speaking after the match as saying “I swear on my life, I said to Cole we’re coming on today and you’re setting me up”, in reference to fellow substitute Cole Palmer.
Times Sport: Southgate roars again #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Z7opdnicTc
— George Mann (@sgfmann) July 10, 2024
The Telegraph has “Oh, Wat a night!” next to a jubilant Watkins, with an inset image featuring a fiercely jubilant Southgate.
Telegraph Sport: Oh, Wat a night! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/JF03QwBxYR
— George Mann (@sgfmann) July 10, 2024
“Wat a finish!”, says the Express sports pages. The paper says the team were “deserved winners” and that the winning goal sparked “ecstatic scenes of celebration amongst England fans”.
Express Sport: Wat a finish! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/OvKFtbL06c
— George Mann (@sgfmann) July 10, 2024
The mood is decidedly dampened on the front page of AD Sportwereld, a Netherlands sporting newspaper.
“This hurts”, reads the headline, alongside a full page picture of midfielder Xavi Simons – who scored the first goal of the match – commiserating as the final whistle is blown.
De cover van AD Sportwereld van donderdag 11 juli. Daarin alles over de halve finale tussen Nederland en Engeland, de etappezege van Jonas Vingegaard in de Tour de France, een portret van de Spaanse bondscoach Luis de la Fuente en de columns van Sjoerd Mossou en Thijs Zonneveld pic.twitter.com/ccpFJhxZNF
— AD.nl/sportwereld (@ADSportwereld) July 10, 2024
The celebrations are in full flow in the Metro however, with “Nether in doubt!”. The paper notes that England is now through its second consecutive Euros final.
Metro: Nether in doubt #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/V7Eqo5Y1Qj
— George Mann (@sgfmann) July 10, 2024
“Wat a night!”, says the Star. Reporter Jerry Layton applauds Watkins last-minute goal and looks ahead to the final, saying “be very, very afraid, Spain.”
Thursday's front page: Wat a night! ⚽ #TomorrowsPaperToday https://t.co/vNgR8CmRoz pic.twitter.com/1zmA4s2sbb
— Daily Star (@dailystar) July 10, 2024
Spain’s daily tabloid, Marca, appears prepared to take up that challenge. Under a full-page picture of England midfielder Jude Bellingham celebrating, the paper’s headline reads: “Hey Jude, see you in Berlin”.
#LaPortada 🗞️ Hey Jude, nos vemos en Berlín pic.twitter.com/TdUpzAvHvn
— MARCA (@marca) July 10, 2024
