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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Jonathan Yerushalmy

‘Wat a finish!’: what the papers say as England go through to the Euro 2024 final

Dutch and UK paper front pages
Dutch and UK papers on Thursday marked England’s last-minute victory, albeit in different ways. They now go through to the Euros 2024 final on Sunday. Composite: Daily Star/i/AD Sportwereld/Times Sport/Daily Express Sport/Metro

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.

“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”.

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.

The Telegraph has “Oh, Wat a night!” next to a jubilant Watkins, with an inset image featuring a fiercely jubilant Southgate.

“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”.

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.

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.

“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.”

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”.

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