December 8, 2024

England advances to European Championship final after beating Netherlands 2-1 with late Watkins goal

England advanced to a second consecutive European Championship final on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over the Netherlands thanks to a stoppage-time winner from substitute Ollie Watkins.

Watkins, who replaced captain Harry Kane in a bold move by manager Gareth Southgate, turned around and smashed a powerful shot into the bottom corner one minute into added time. England will face Spain in the final on Sunday in Berlin, the country’s first title match on foreign soil since winning the 1966 World Cup and losing to Italy in the Euro 2020 final (both at Wembley Stadium).

An open first half saw Harry Kane’s 18th-minute penalty erase a brilliant seventh-minute lead from Xavi Simons for the Netherlands.