Gravity-defying: England’s Marc Guehi challenges Wout Weghorst of Holland. — AP
DORTMUND: England finally showed their true colours at the European Championship, putting on a convincing and effective performance when it mattered most to book themselves a berth in Sunday’s final in Berlin.
It will be Three Lions first ever major tournament final on foreign soil.
Ollie Watkins’ late winner to secure the 2-1 win over Holland was as much as they deserved after dominating the encounter in a display their supporters had been eagerly awaiting but barely daring to hope for.
It was also a performance that left England manager Gareth Southgate “immensely proud”.
Ollie Watkins struck a stoppage-time winner in Dortmund to send England into Sunday’s final against Spain in Berlin.
For the third consecutive game England were forced to come from behind after Xavi Simons’ early thunderbolt for the Dutch.
But Southgate’s men got their rewards for a much-improved performance as Harry Kane levelled from the penalty spot before Aston Villa striker Watkins proved the unlikely hero after his limited role at the tournament so far.
“I was really pleased with the quality of our play. It will be, I would imagine, a long time, if ever, an English side had 60% of the ball against a side from Holland. So it shows the more modern England way,” said Southgate.
The England boss had been heavily criticised after his side needed late equalisers against Slovakia and Switzerland to reach the last four.
But in four major tournaments in charge, Southgate has now led his country to two finals, a semi-final and a quarter-final.
And he is keen to make amends from losing the Euro 2020 final on penalties to Italy at Wembley three years ago.
“The only reason I did the job when I took it on was to try and bring success to England as a nation and to try and improve English football,” he added.
“To be able to take the team to a first final overseas, I’m immensely proud of that.
“But now of course we’ve come here to win. We play the team who’ve been the best team in the tournament and we have a day less to prepare, so it’s a huge task. But we’re still here and we’re fighting.”
Victory was especially sweet for Southgate after the backlash he received for England’s shaky start to the tournament.” — Agencies
