England once again took the hard route but managed to secure its place in the final of the UEFA Euro Cup 2024. The Netherlands was the latest prey of the resiliency shown by Gareth Southgate’s side throughout the tournament. Xavi Simons’ thunderous effort put the Dutch in front which was cancelled out by a penalty from Harry Kane 11 minutes later. Substitute, Ollie Watkins grabbed the winner in stoppage time leaving the Netherlands with no scope to come back into the game.
A blockbuster clash awaits in the final in Berlin as England prepares to take on Spain. It will certainly be a battle between two contrasting playstyles with the Spanish looking to dominate in every aspect while the Three Lions once again prepare to battle out the adversity. It will be the first time that the England National Team will play in the final of a major international tournament on foreign soil.
Gareth Southgate’s brave calls pay off
The English manager has had his fair share of criticisms surrounding his tendency to be reactive rather than proactive. His passive and pessimistic style of soccer has not always pleased the English community but Southgate played a big role in England’s 2-1 victory over the Netherlands. The first half was undoubtedly the best 45 minutes played by the national team so far in the European Championship.
However, the 53-year-old’s greatest contribution came in the 81ˢᵗ minute when he decided to bring on Ollie Watkins and Cole Palmer in place of Harry Kane and Phil Foden. The English captain had scored the English goal while the Manchester City man was a constant threat in the match, making the call a very courageous one. The bravery, nevertheless, paid off as Palmer assisted Watkins’ goal in the dying moments.
Kobbie Mainoo captures the spotlight once again
The center of the park was a major concern for England in the opening two outings against Serbia and Denmark, where the opposition could easily overrun the dysfunctional English midfield. Gareth Southgate tried fielding Trent Alexander Arnold as well as Connor Gallagher as the partner for Declan Rice in the pivot. Ultimately, Manchester United’s Kobbie Mainoo proved to be the solution.
The 19-year-old has been a real spark with his pace and freshness. Even at such a tender age, Mainoo is not afraid to assert his dominance on the pitch. He has been by far the most eye-catching midfielder for England in Germany. Kobbie Mainoo’s form will once again be crucial for the Three Lions to capture their European dream against Spain in Berlin.