An extra-time goal from Harry Kane sealed England’s passage to the final of a European Championships for the first time in the country’s history. The Three Lions beat Denmark 2-1 after going behind initially.
Will it be coming home? Or will it be going to Rome? – these are the main questions England and Italy will try to answer before and during their UEFA Euro 2020 Final on Sunday.
The Three Lions joined the Azzurri in the final of the tournament by beating Denmark 2-1 in the semi-final. Gareth Southgate’s men had to come from behind for the first time in the competition, but they did so with ease and secured their passage to the trophy clash – albeit under controversial circumstances.
England started the more positive of the two teams with their attackers getting into good positions. However, the Denmark defence held firm during the opening stages and instead took advantage of set pieces to take the lead. The Danes led in the 30th minute through a sensational free-kick from 21-year-old Mikkel Damsgaard. The Sampdoria man scored the first free-kick of the tournament, and it was a special sight as the ball zoomed past Jordan Pickford in the English goal.
Southgate’s men went on the attack instantly, and Raheem Sterling saw his close-range effort saved by Kasper Schmeichel in the opposite goal. However, England had the ball in the net less than a minute after Sterling’s saved effort. Simon Kjaer, the Danish captain, turned out to be in the wrong place at the wrong time to deflect a Bukayo Saka cross past his own goalkeeper.
England dominated proceedings from there on but were kept at bay by the Danish defence. The Three Lions had almost 60 per cent share of the ball and attempted 20 shots, the most telling of which came in the first half of extra time. Sterling was adjudged to have brought down in the box, but replays showed the contact to be minimal.
Harry Kane stepped up to take the spot-kick which Schmeichel saved. Unfortunately for the Danish custodian, the ball rebounded straight back in the path of Kane, who had the entire unguarded net to aim at.
England held on to their narrow lead until the end of the additional 30 minutes and will now face Italy in their home stadium – Wembley – for the final on July 11.
