England 2-1 Netherlands
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
It’s a huge game with England and Netherlands vying for a place in the Euro 2024 final against Spain on Sunday.
Whoever progresses will be underdogs against Luis de la Fuente’s in-form team.
Neither the English nor the Dutch have been especially impressive at this tournament, but both sides have made a habit of getting over the line in difficult circumstances.
Reaching a first major final not on English soil would be an impressive achievement by Gareth Southgate.
Similarly, few people were tipping the Netherlands at the start of this tournament, so if Ronald Koeman can take them to the final, it would be a similarly spectacular feat.
Confirmation of tonight’s teams…
Your #ThreeLions to play the Netherlands! 📋 pic.twitter.com/rDGci8kIAr
— England (@England) July 10, 2024
3 - England have reached the semi-finals of three of their four major tournaments under Gareth Southgate (2018 World Cup, EURO 2020 + 2024), having not done so in any of their nine tournaments prior to that between 1998 and 2016. Hope. pic.twitter.com/xefXhyUEeY
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 10, 2024
3 mins – As expected it’s a fairly cagey opening.
England have had most of the possession but it’s mainly been played in front of the Dutch.
NETHERLANDS 1-0 ENGLAND (SIMONS 7)
A brilliant start for the Netherlands and it’s a fine individual goal.
Xavi Simons wins the ball off Rice in the midfield, strides forward and places an unstoppable shot into the top corner from the edge of the area.
It’s just the 21-year-old’s second goal at international level.
12 mins – It’s been a decent response from England.
Saka made a purposeful run forward and was fouled by Gapko.
The ensuing delivery into the box is cleared by Van Dijk.
13 mins – Kane tests the goalkeeper from about 30 yards out with an audacious effort.
Bart Verbruggen does well to parry the ball away to safety.
Moments later, Kane fires the ball over the bar after it ricochets in the area to him.
This has been an exciting start to this game.
Here’s a look at the first goal.
Xavi Simons' superb strike gives the Netherlands a dream start against England.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 10, 2024
#NEDENG #Euro2024
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ENGLAND 1-1 NETHERLANDS (KANE 18)
Verbruggen goes the right way, but Kane still finds the corner.
Already, this is comfortably the most entertaining game at Euro 2024 that England have been involved in.
23 mins – Foden wriggles his way past a couple of Dutch defenders.
He beats Verbruggen with the finish but a defender clears it off the line.
England are in the ascendancy at the moment.
Here’s a look at England’s equaliser…
Harry Kane makes no mistake from the penalty spot as England equalise against the Netherlands.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 10, 2024
#NEDENG #Euro2024
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28 mins – Depay slips in Malen.
But Walker stops him with a last-ditch tackle and it deflects out for a corner.
30 mins – A Dumfries header hits the crossbar after Simons finds him with a corner.
What a game this has been!
32 mins – Foden gets the ball on the edge of the area.
His strike from distance looks to be heading for the top corner but it comes back off the outside of the post.
England are looking the more likely to score at the moment.
35 mins – Blow for the Dutch as Memphis Depay goes off injured.
Veerman, a midfielder, comes on in his place.
39 mins – Foden tests the goalkeeper again with a low shot from the edge of the area.
After a couple of ineffectual games, the Man City star has looked bright and lively this evening.
45 mins: Trippier finds himself in a good position on the left after a well-worked move but his cross goes straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.
This looks like a different England team from the one that has been so uninspired for most of the tournament.
HALF-TIME: NETHERLANDS 1-1 ENGLAND
So an interesting first half of football has come to an end.
The Dutch failed to build on a superb early goal by Simons.
England got back in the game thanks to a somewhat debatable penalty.
However, it has easily been Gareth Southgate’s team’s best 45 minutes of football.
They are the more threatening side and will probably be the happier of the two teams at the break, particularly with the Dutch having to cope with the loss of Depay to injury.
Here’s a look at the debatable penalty decision that got England back in the game…
Here's a look back at the challenge that resulted in an England penalty.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 10, 2024
#NEDENG #Euro2024
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Changes from both sides at half-time.
For England, Shaw replaces Trippier.
For Netherlands, Weghorst comes on for Malen.
50 mins – It’s been a scrappy, cautious start to the second half in contrast with the frenetic first.
It will be interesting to see whether England can maintain their early tempo.
54 mins – The Netherlands are starting to look tired.
A promising counter-attack ends with Reijnders passing the ball straight out of play.
58 mins – This second half continues to be cagey and perhaps more in line with what was expected from the outset tonight.
The Dutch look content to sit back and invite English pressure.
6 mins The Dutch counter-attack but Veerman badly overhits the cross from a promising position.
The quality in this game has dropped since half-time, partially owing to the more conservative setup from Ronald Koeman’s side.
65 mins – Veerman’s set-piece delivery bounces off the knee of Van Dijk, but Pickford gets down well to make the save.
The Dutch are coming into this game more now.
68 mins – Pickford has to parry Gakpo’s cross out for a corner.
England have not been as good at all in this second half.
72 mins – Bellingham gets booked for a late challenge on De Vrij.
England are starting to look tired.
74 mins – Walker does really well, preventing Gakpo from running through on goal with a last-ditch challenge.
Simons pass was underhit and helped the defender recover.
77 mins – Gakpo’s cross finds Weghorst, whose header is blocked.
Simons’ tame follow-up shot is easily saved by Pickford.
79 mins – Saka has the ball in the net, slotting it home from close range but it’s ruled out as Walker is marginally offside in the build.
England make a double change with Foden and Kane replaced by Watkins and Palmer.
86 mins – Saka cynically trips Gakpo and gets booked as the Dutch look threatening on the counter.
This game is incredibly tense now.
88 mins – A Shaw low cross finds Palmer.
However, the Chelsea star’s finish is well off target.
ENGLAND 2-1 NETHERLANDS (WATKINS 90)
Watkins has surely won it for England.
Palmer slips him through and he fires home from the tightest of angles.
FULL-TIME: ENGLAND 2-1 NETHERLANDS
So that’s that.
Only the second game that England have won over 90 minutes at this tournament and it means they will meet Spain in the final on Sunday.
Gareth Southgate is often criticised for his in-game substitutions but in this instance, it has paid off.
The brave decision to replace Kane and Foden with Watkins and Palmer paid off, as the latter two both had a hand in the winning goal.
The Dutch will be gutted as they looked comfortable for a significant portion of the second half.
But England’s individual brilliance has gotten them over the line on several occasions and so it proved again tonight.
Here’s a look at the winning goal…
If you're a fan of the Netherlands, it's a case of 'commentator's curse', as Ollie Watkins strikes at the death for England. #NEDENG #Euro2024
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 10, 2024
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