England vs Netherlands Semi Final, UEFA EURO 2024 Highlights: ENG beat NED 2-1 to go through to the final; late goal from super sub Ollie Watkins

Wow, what a semifinal we've had. The first half was filled with attacking excellence at both ends. Things got slow in the second half but started to come alive late as Extra Time looked inevitable. Netherlands carved out more openings but England made most of the best chance they got late in the game. An inspired substitution, Ollie Watkins scored a late, late goal to seal the tie. 

Look at the joy on the faces of those England fans. It was only a couple weeks ago that they were frustrated over the state of their team, and how they were playing. It doesn't matter now. England are in the final. *Sweet Caroline blares on the PA system anytime now*. 

THAT'S THAT!

England have done it. They are through to their second straight Euros final. For the first time in their history - and this is quite something - England will play a major tournament final at foreign soil. 

NED 1-2 ENG

Two minutes of added time. Can the Dutch come up with a late goal of their own?

England make two changes. Saka and Mainoo are off for Konsa and Gallagher. Netherlands with a double substitution of their own: Simmons and Dumfries make way for Zirkzee and Brobbey.

NED 1-2 ENG

England with a chance deep in the second half. Ollie Watkins is fed through the middle, and the substitute makes a fine turn and goes low at the far post to make it 2-1!

Oh what a moment! From the bench, in for the skipper, Ollie Watkins may just have sent England into the final at the very end of this semi-final. 

NED 1-2 ENG

Saka finds Shaw out wide, and he controls superbly before drilling a low cross into the penalty area. It finds Palmer who works it onto his left foot before striking towards goal, but it flies into the stands behind the goal and it's a goal-kick to Netherlands.

NED 1-1 ENG

Netherlands break through from the right and switch to the left with Cody Gakpo cutting in but Bukayo Saka brings him down and the referee has awarded Netherlands a free kick in a position of promise. 

The resulting delivery in doesn't materialize into a shot on goal and the referee points for goal kick. Van Dijk though isn't convinced as he argues with the ref over the fact that the last touch may have been off John Stones. He gets booked for dissent. 

NED 1-1 ENG

A quick break from the Dutch on the left. Quick, incisive passing after robbing England off a full press. 

Reijnders drives down the left-hand side in space, and Netherlands have bodies inside the penalty area waiting for the ball. It's delivered low towards Weghorst, but Guehi cuts across him and makes a crucial interception to deny an opportunity.

NED 1-1 ENG

Phil Foden and Harry Kane are coming off. Gareth Southgate introduces Cole Palmer and Ollie Watkins in their stead. 

NED 1-1 ENG

A lovely move develops on the right for England. Phil Foden spreads the ball through to Kyle Walker, who dishes in a low cross to Bukayo Saka, who taps in a first touch finish but the flag has been raised - Walker was offside in the lead up to the goal.

NED 1-1 ENG

Simons plays a superb throughball to Gakpo on the left-hand side and he looks to burst through on goal. Walker makes a recovery run before producing a risky sliding challenge, but he perfectly connects with the ball and wins it back for England.

NED 1-1 ENG

Jude Bellingham goes into the referee's books for a late challenge. Booked by Felix Zwayer, who has had some history with the former Borussia Dortmund player, but on this occasion the referee is in the right to show the yellow.

NED 1-1 ENG

Netherlands have another corner and Veerman is the player to take once again. It's delivered into the box and Ake wins the initial header, but Pickford makes a comfortable save. The referee has blown his whistle for a foul - Weghorst has Stones in his grip - and England will have a free-kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

A lot of pushing and shoving in the box, predominantly from the Dutch players - most notably from Wout Weghorst, who has John Stones in his grip. Eventually the referee decides to award England with a free kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

A lot of pushing and shoving in the box, predominantly from the Dutch players - most notably from Wout Weghorst, who has John Stones in his grip. Eventually the referee decides to award England with a free kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

A lot of pushing and shoving in the box, predominantly from the Dutch players - most notably from Wout Weghorst, who has John Stones in his grip. Eventually the referee decides to award England with a free kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

A lot of pushing and shoving in the box, predominantly from the Dutch players - most notably from Wout Weghorst, who has John Stones in his grip. Eventually the referee decides to award England with a free kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

A lot of pushing and shoving in the box, predominantly from the Dutch players - most notably from Wout Weghorst, who has John Stones in his grip. Eventually the referee decides to award England with a free kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

A lot of pushing and shoving in the box, predominantly from the Dutch players - most notably from Wout Weghorst, who has John Stones in his grip. Eventually the referee decides to award England with a free kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

A lot of pushing and shoving in the box, predominantly from the Dutch players - most notably from Wout Weghorst, who has John Stones in his grip. Eventually the referee decides to award England with a free kick.

NED 1-1 ENG

The Dutch look to break through again, this time from the left. Cody Gakpo has the ball and decides to whip a cross at the far post, it's curling in, and Jordan Pickford - with Denzel Dumfries rushing in - decides to take no risk and fists it away. 

NED 1-1 ENG

The Netherlands win a free kick on the right inside the England half. They've been a big threat from dead ball situations, can they bring this game alive with this one. Joey Veerman stands on the free kick, dishes in a curling away delivery, Van Dijk has managed to edge past his marker and is able to take a shot on target but Jordan Pickford just about manages to clear it.

NED 1-1 ENG

Netherlands look to break as Gakpo cuts inside from the left, and he finds Dumfries out wide. Veerman is picked out centrally and he delivers towards the back post, but he's overhit it and it goes behind for a goal-kick to England.

NED 1-1 ENG

12 minutes into the second half and both goalkeepers have remained untested since swapping ends. "A completely different game," calls the voice of football Peter Drury on the comms. Oh first half, we miss you already.

NED 1-1 ENG

First sighting of the versitatity Wout Weghorst can imbue in this Dutch setting. Drops in to ensure that the Netherlands don't lose the possession and lays the ball to Xavi Simons on the right by the midfield line. Simons' dink however, is dealt with by easy from England, who haven't stepped the afterburners yet in the second half.

NED 1-1 ENG

No, this isn't a political pun. England were superior down the rigth channel inside the Dutch half in the first 45. With Luke Shaw now back in the game, they can try their luck down the other side. A switch of play with short passes gives us an opening into the same. 

Bellingham makes an overlapping run after passing the ball to Foden, who has two options in front of him but goes wider to Shaw, whose cross into the box is dealt with at the cost of a throw-in.

NED 1-1 ENG

As it was in the opening minutes of the first half, a fairly quiet start to the second half, though England are on the front foot once more. Saka gets to the byline and cuts the ball back into a good area; there’s nobody there in a white shirt.

NED 1-1 ENG

While Gareth Southgate has introduced Luke Shaw for Kieran Trippier, Netherlands have turned to Wout Weghorst for more physical advantage up front instead of Donyell Malan. 

NED 1-1 ENG

Netherlands get us started in the second half. A change each from the two sets of managers.

NED 1-1 ENG

Quite the observation from England cricketer Andrew Flintoff: 

“England’s tournament this time has been a bit like 1990 - top of the group with one win and two draws (scoring two goals, conceding one); scoring in the last minute in the second round and only squeezing through the quarter final via penalties (Lineker’s pair in 1990 and the shootout this year).

"England have even had the misfiring no. 11 (the current FWA Footballer of the Year - Barnes in 1990 and Foden this year), and a switch to three at the back. It’s not an exact parallel, but it only needs a good performance and a loss in a shootout for the similarities to continue.”

Most players cut these holes in their socks in order to relieve pressure from their calf muscles due to their tight fits. Players who have well developed calves cut through the garment in order to help for better blood circulation in their legs so as to avoid cramps during or after a game or a particularly tough training session.

Former England internationl Gary Neville believes England shouldn't have been awarded with the penalty in the first half. “An absolute disgrace,” he calls it on ITV Sport.

Netherlands manouvre the ball on the left, one final throw of the dice in the first half but England deal with it. And that's that for the first half. 

England have been more proactive with their attacking, since Xavi Simons whipped a stunning kick from just outside the England box to make it 1-0. The advantage was nullified by captain Harry Kane from the spot, and England have had the lion's share of the ball since. But as of now, what matters more than anything is that the scores are still level. 

NED 1-1 ENG

England pass sideways, just outside the Dutch box. Kane on the right to Saka, who cuts in and lays one off to Bellingham at the edge of the box, who feeds an overlapping Trippier, whose cross into the box is collected safely by Verbruggen. Dutch captain Virgil Van Dijk is livid with his defensive troops. 

NED 1-1 ENG

Kane plays a ball over the top to Trippier, and he quickly picks out Bellingham before Kane is eventually found once again. He swings a cross into the box towards Foden, but Van Dijk is there to head it away. 

NED 1-1 ENG

By far, this has been England's best performance in a half at this Euros. They have been relentless in pursuit of a goal since they went down. On this particular occasion, Kobbie Mainoo decides to launch a right-footed strike from distance but it's blocked. 

STAT ALERT: Harry Kane is now the most successful goal scorer at the Euros knockouts - his penalty today being his sixth.

NED 1-1 ENG

Phil Foden has come alive on the inward-right tonight. Cuts in and decides to have a go from outside the box yet again, this time though, his shot is hit through the surface and Verbruggen slides to his right to collect it. 

NED 1-1 ENG

A bit of a reshuffle in the Dutch XI. Joey Veerman has been introduced in place of Memphis Depay, who looked in discomfort since picking up an injury.

NED 1-1 ENG

Oh this is a thriller! Netherlands hit the post, and now it's England's turn. 

Phil Foden gains control of the ball on the inward right outside the box and decides to wrap his foot around the ball, a lovely curling-in striker that hits the woodwork at the far post. 

NED 1-1 ENG

Netherlands finally having possession of the ball in the England third. A corner is won on the right, and off the incoming delivery, Denzel Dumfries towers above his marker to head it home but it deflects away off the crossbar. Oh that would've opened up this game even more. England have enjoyed nearly all of the ball since that Dutch opener. 

NED 1-1 ENG

It's been a positive start to the game for the Three Lions, who are dominating the possession and creating chances. Southgate's side have had 65.8% of the ball while producing four shots, with two of those being on target.

NED 1-1 ENG

Oh, that was as close as any team has come to scoring at these Euros, and hasn't. 

Phil Foden wriggles and writhes his way into the six yard box from the right, rounds up the goalkeeper and rolls in the ball but Dumfries blocks it on the line. ON THE LINE. 

NED 1-1 ENG

It had taken Spain 20 minutes to get their equalizer after France struck first last night. It's taken England 18 - this being the third quickest comeback by a team in a Euros semifinal after France v Yugoslavia in 1960 (12th min) and England v Germany in 1996 (16th). 

We are in for another classic here, aren't we?

NED 1-1 ENG

Harry Kane steps on the spot kick. Remember, he wasn't part of the penalty shootout in the quarter-finals, having been withdrawn in Extra-Time. Can he make it count today? YOU BET HE CAN.

A picture-perfect penalty, bottom corner, and England are back into the game having conceded first for the third straight game at these Euros. 

NED 1-1 ENG

Kane goes for a first time volley from insde the box and Dumfries - looking to block it - has raised his foot a tad too high. A VAR check follows, and this is looking bad for the Dutch, and it is. The referee awards England with a penalty and the white shirts in Dortmund stands are jumping. 

NED 1-0 ENG

A couple of free kicks and another corner won by England since conceding that goal. Harry Kane is fetched a ball from the left just outside the box and the England captain decides to go for it from outside the box but Verbruggen parries it away with a dive to his right. 

NED 1-0 ENG

Bellingham is caught around the eye, an accident but one that means he’ll need treatment, and England have a free kick from outside the Dutch box. 

Trippier and Kane standing over this. It's Foden who takes it but Ake inside the box, heads it out of danger.

NED 1-0 ENG 

Netherlands rob England of the possession as Xavi Simons steams in with the ball towards the England box but decides to pull the trigger from outside the box and OH WHAT A GOAL!

A thunderbolt strike from outside the box and Xavi Simons has beaten Jordan Pickford to make it 1-0 for the Dutch. The England players are all over the ref, appealing a foul in the leadup. Nothing given. And Dortmund is jumping orange.

NED 1-0 ENG

England move forward with numbers. Harry Kane spreads the ball out wide to Saka, who cuts inside and whips in a delicious curling cross but it's just gone over Phil Foden at the far post. 

NED 0-0 ENG

Netherlands play through the press well as Depay fires the ball out wide to Simons. He carries the ball into the middle and looks to play Malen in behind the England defence, but he fails to get it under control.

NED 0-0 ENG

A slow start to this one, especially in comparison to the game yesterday. 

England just easing their way into this one with short, sideways passes as Phil Foden is brought down by Memphis Depay. Just a warning from the ref.

NED 0-0 ENG 

All in readiness and England get us underway in Dortmund, kicking from left to right in their white and blue home colors. Netherlands also dressed in their first kit: all orange!

NED 0-0 ENG

Netherlands (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Reijnders; Malen, Simons, Gakpo; Depay.

Substitutes: Geertruida, de Ligt, Wijnaldum, Weghorst, Frimpong, Bijlow, Van de Ven, Veerman, Blind, Brobbey, Maatsen, Zirkzee, Flekken, Bergwijn, Gravenberch.

England (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Trippier; Foden, Bellingham; Kane.

Substitutes: Shaw, Alexander-Arnold, Ramsdale, Konsa, Dunk, Gallagher, Toney, Gordon, Watkins, Bowen, Eze, Gomez, Henderson, Palmer, Wharton.

Dortmund has been BUZZING in the leadup to this one. The Dutch fans have painted the yellow wall end at the Signal Iduna Park orange. The English fans have spread the flags and the white shirts at the other end. The two sets of the players with their game faces on in the tunnel. Out they come to a loud roar from the crowd! Ah, this is a fantastic setting for a high stakes fixture.

On ITV Sport, Karen Carney says the rainfall has had an effect on theb pitch. "It was cutting up slightly when players were twisting and turning during the warm-up."

With two vital goals, the latest of which averted a loss at the hands of Slovakia in the Round of 16, Jude Bellingham has been England's driving force at Euro 2024. 

His childhood coach tells The Indian Express that the 21-year-old had the capability to be so from a very young age.  "I was more blown away with his intelligence of the game at 15. The know-how of it. His understanding of formations, where he needed to be, was astonishing." (READ the special interview from Rahul Pandey)

What's been bugging Gareth Southgate's England? They have been known to take the cautious route before but it's been different this time around.

Phil Foden & Jude Bellingham occupy similar roles while their main striker - captain Harry Kane - has looked off the pace, but safety-first manager unlikely to take bold calls. Sandip G analyzes the chinks in England's armor, CLICK HERE TO READ.

It was fitting that Adrien Rabiot stood right in front of him before Lamine Yamal pulled the trigger from 27 yards out of goal to become the youngest scorer in Euros history. “To play in a Euro final, he will have to do more than he has so far,” Rabiot had issued a challenge to the Spanish teenager ahead of their semi-final meeting. 

So it was only fair that when Yamal scored to spark a Spain win - and become the youngest scorer in Euros and World Cup - Rabiot stood the closest to him, gazing the ball curl around him all the way into the French net. In his defense, there wasn’t much he could do to stop it. And it was only fitting that it was a stunner that came off his left leg. (READ Rahul Pandey's piece on Spain's wonder boy)

The Dutch winner in the Turkey game had some distinct features, especially the Gakpo-Dumfries link-up though the build-up was from a more central area.

The move has not always produced goals, but the unusual link-up play has caught defences napping. (Sandip G explains, READ HERE)

England

Group stage

vs Serbia: won (1-0)

vs Denmark: draw (1-1) 

vs Slovenia: draw (0-0)

Round of 16 

vs Slovakia: won (2-1, ET)

Quarter-final

vs Switzerland: won (5-3, penalties)

Netherlands

Group stage 

vs Poland: won (2-1)

vs France: draw (0-0)

vs Austria: lost (2-3)

Round of 16 

vs Romania: won (3-0)

Quarter-final 

vs Turkey: won (2-1)