A stunning late Ollie Watkins goal secured England’s place in the Euro 2024 final after a 2-1 win against the Netherlands.
The Dutch had led as a result of a long-range effort from Xavi Simons in the sixth minute before the Three Lions turned it around.
Harry Kane equalised in the 18th minute from the penalty spot, after Denzel Dumfries was rather harshly punished for catching the Bayern Munich man after he had gotten a shot away.
The defining moment came in the 91st minute, when substitute Watkins, who had been on the pitch for just ten minutes swivelled and put the ball into the net.
England meet Spain on Sunday in the final.
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Story of the Game
The Netherlands made once change to their starting XI with Donyell Malen replacing Steven Bergwijn after his two goals in the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate also made just one change, Marc Guehi returning from suspension to replace Ezri Konsa.
It was the Dutch that took the advantage early, just six minutes into the contest, when Simons robbed Declan Rice of possession, then beat Jordan Pickford from range.
However, the Three Lions were level just eight minutes later when captain Kane converted a penalty.
The spot kick was given away by Bayer Leverkusen man Dumfries, who made contact with the Bayern Munich man after he had gotten a shot away and was booked as a result.
After the equaliser, momentum was in England’s favour and Kobbie Mainoo threaded a stunning ball through to Phil Foden who finally found his feet and released a shot that was somehow cleared off of the line.
After half an hour of play, Dumfries nearly made amends for his mistake with a header from a corner, but it cannoned off of the crossbar.
It was the Three Lions turn to hit the woodwork just two minutes later, when Foden opened up his body and released a curling shot that struck the wrong side of the post.
Memphis Depay was forced off with an injury after 35 minutes, with Joey Veerman thrown into the action earlier than expected as a result.
Manchester City man Foden was beginning to show an influence which he has lacked so far in the tournament, and he tested Bart Verbruggen with a low effort with 39 minutes gone.
It was a much better first-half from Southgate’s side, with 60% possession and four shots on target (more than they managed in 120 minutes against Switzerland and Slovakia), with Foden and Mainoo particularly impressive.
Both sides made one change at half-time, Luke Shaw replaced Kieran Trippier and Wout Weghorst was brought on in place of Malen.
The first 15 minutes of the second-half suggested that any momentum from before the interval had faded, with both teams struggling to sustain attacks and create any real chances.
With almost 65 minutes on the clock, Virgil van Dijk got a shin to a cross and forced Pickford into a save after Marc Guehi had given away a free-kick in a dangerous area.
England’s momentum had completely faded and their first booking of the night was for Jude Bellingham after 72 minutes, for a late challenge on Stefan de Vrij.
With 77 minutes gone, the ball fell to Simons on the edge of the area, but his strike was not clean and bounced right into the hands of Pickford.
Just before the 80th minute, Saka thought he had given the Three Lions the lead, a nice move eventually finished by the Arsenal man, but there was an offside in the build-up.
Gareth Southgate made more changes after the disallowed goal, Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins replacing Foden and Kane.
An excellent move from the Netherlands to beat the press had Weghorst licking his lips in the box, but Guehi was there to deny the former Manchester United man.
Liverpool man Cody Gakpo was rather quiet, but when he got on the ball in the 85th minute he was fouled by Saka, who was booked in the aftermath.
The resulting free-kick was aimed towards Van Dijk but led to nothing, when it should have been a corner, the last touch coming from John Stones, the Dutch captain was handed a yellow card for his protests.
With three minutes to go as England searched for a goal, a cross from Shaw nearly found Watkins in the middle but eventually fell to Palmer, who couldn’t get his shot under the crossbar.
As extra-time was approaching, Palmer found Watkins, who turned and shot across Verbruggen into the back of the net sending the England fans into bedlam.
There were two late bookings, Simons for his protests after the goal and Trippier just before the full-time whistle.
Conor Gallagher and Konsa came on to see out the remainder of added time in place of Saka and Mainoo whilst the Dutch brought on Joshua Zirkzee and Brian Brobbey for Dumfries and Simons.
The final whistle blew and the Three Lions are into another European Championship final.
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Player of the Game
Ollie Watkins
Who else could it be, the Aston Villa forward had only been on the pitch for ten minutes when he scored a magnificent goal to send his nation to the final.
He became the first substitute to score a 90th-minute winning goal in a European Championship knockout game.
His only other action at the tournament was a 20 minute cameo against Denmark.
A truly sensational moment for the man who was playing for non-league Weston-super-mare AFC in the 2014/15 season.
