NETHERLANDS 1-2 ENGLAND – OLLIE WATKINS SCORES LAST-SECOND WINNER TO SEND ENGLAND INTO EURO 2024 FINAL

England have booked their place in the Euro 2024 final after a dramatic last-second winner from Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins secured a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. The Dutch took an early lead through Xavi Simons’ stunning goal, but Harry Kane leveled the score with a controversial penalty. In the dying moments of the match, Watkins received the ball, spun, and fired a shot from an incredibly tight angle, sealing the win for England. The victory means England will face Spain in the final on Sunday, marking their second consecutive Euro final and their first outside their own country.

Both teams started positively, but it was the Netherlands who struck first. Declan Rice lost the ball, allowing Xavi Simons to drill home a beauty from the edge of the box as he fell, giving the Dutch the perfect start. England, however, fought their way back into the game with Kobbie Mainoo and Phil Foden leading the charge. On 16 minutes, Harry Kane took a shot that was blocked by Denzel Dumfries, who caught Kane in his follow-through. VAR intervened, and the referee awarded a penalty, which Kane converted into the bottom-left corner. Despite England's dominance for the rest of the half, Dumfries nearly restored the Dutch lead, heading against the bar, and Foden's brilliant curler hit the angle of the goalpost.

The second half was less eventful, with the Netherlands stifling England's midfield. However, Gareth Southgate’s positive and decisive substitutions paid off when Cole Palmer found Watkins, who executed his task perfectly, sending England to Berlin.

Talking Point – Gareth Southgate Shows Boldness

Gareth Southgate, known for his conservative and understated approach, often manages with a mindset of not losing, reflecting his playing days. However, the abundance of attacking talent in the England squad requires bold and strategic deployment. Southgate got it right against the Netherlands, bringing on Ollie Watkins to exploit the space behind the Dutch defense and Cole Palmer to provide the crucial assist. His bold decision to substitute an aggravated Harry Kane and the outstanding Phil Foden was rewarded.

Facing Spain in the final presents a different challenge. Southgate will need to leverage his squad’s attacking prowess once more, proving that being proactive and looking to win is not a risky strategy but a pragmatic one.

Player of the Match – Ollie Watkins (England)

Despite limited minutes on the pitch, Ollie Watkins’ decisive goal in the last minute of regulation time makes him the standout player. His instinctive finish was crucial in securing England’s place in the final.

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