A clash between two of Euro 2024’s toughest defensive teams always promised to need something special to spark it. Simons delivered just that. A loose clearance put Declan Rice under pressure, although a midfielder of his quality could have shown more strength or even cunning to keep possession.

If one of England’s defenders had been more aware of the danger, Simons’ hunger might have been subdued. Instead, the opportunity opened up for him, with Jordan Pickford only managing to touch his powerful shot.

Once again, England came alive after conceding. They had started well in Dortmund but reached their peak in the tournament when chasing an equalizer. Initially, Harry Kane tested Bart Verbruggen from distance, the Dutch goalkeeper making a crucial save, before Kane benefited from a slick combination involving Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.

His shot over the bar seemed to end the move, with Kane frustrated by late contact from Denzel Dumfries, although most agreed the Dutch right-back was simply competing for the ball. VAR, with Bastian Dankert and later Felix Zwayer, saw it differently, and Kane equalized from the penalty spot.

England could have scored more. Phil Foden, fearless and reminiscent of his form at Manchester City, evaded Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Ake, only for Dumfries to clear his effort off the line. Dumfries hit the crossbar with a header from a corner before the half ended, with Foden responding moments later by hitting the woodwork with a powerful left-footed strike.

More chances seemed likely for England, dominating midfield thanks to Kobbie Mainoo’s driving presence. However, an injury to star forward Memphis Depay came at a crucial moment for Ronald Koeman, allowing the introduction of Joey Veerman to fill midfield gaps that wouldn’t appear in the second half.

England stumbled as the Dutch restricted their midfield supply. By the 80th minute, murmurs of frustration were evident across the nation. Gareth Southgate, despite bringing on Luke Shaw at halftime, seemed to have delayed his changes too long.

Nevertheless, timing became irrelevant as the substitutions proved effective. Harry Kane and a fatigued Foden made way for Cole Palmer and Watkins, taking advantage of a stretched game.

Declan Rice’s pass through the heart of the Dutch defense found Palmer, who then found Watkins with his back to goal inside the box. Stefan de Vrij couldn’t stop the Aston Villa player from turning past him. Verbruggen stood no chance against a shot that inevitably nestled into the bottom corner. 

Watkin’s Glory Moment

“After waiting patiently, Ollie has shown outstanding performance out there,” praised England captain Harry Kane in his post-match comments. “His goal could make a difference in winning the tournament. I’m so thrilled for him. He truly deserves it.”

England has never claimed the European championship title, having finished as runners-up in the previous tournament.

“I have no words,” expressed Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk after the defeat. “Conceding so late is devastating. It’s a painful experience. We gave our all, and losing like this hurts deeply.”

The Finals

Spain may be the favorites, but England shouldn’t be underestimated either. The European Championship final in Berlin on Sunday at 3pm EST will feature England against Spain, marking a rare encounter between these two in a major tournament since Euro 1996, where England clinched victory on penalties after a goalless draw at Wembley in the quarter-finals.

England has only reached the Euro final once before, at the previous tournament in 2021, where they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Italy in a penalty shootout at Wembley Stadium. Now, they aim to clinch their first major international title since the 1966 World Cup.

Spain unquestionably stands out as the most complete team in this tournament, showcasing vibrancy, creativity, and attacking brilliance. They have a well-suited formation and numerous match-winners across the pitch.

However, England has shown steady improvement throughout the knockout stage. Despite facing their toughest challenge yet against Spain, Gareth Southgate’s side has gained momentum and boasts several potential match-winners like Phil Foden, Kobbie Mainoo, and Luke Shaw finding form. With a formation that now suits them and growing belief among players and management alike, England presents a formidable challenge.

Read more: Spain’s Road to Glory: Highlights from Euro 2024 Semifinal Win vs France

France started strong with Ousmane Dembélé exploiting a gap between Spanish defenders Laporte and Cucurella to head in an early 1-0 lead from a cross by Kylian Mbappé, who played without his mask. Spain quickly equalized in the 21st minute with a spectacular goal from Lamine Yamal, who skillfully maneuvered past Rabiot before striking into the top corner. Just minutes later, Dani Olmo gave Spain the lead, seizing on a loose ball in the penalty area to score.

Despite France’s efforts to level the score, Spain controlled the game, stifling their attacks. The match was briefly interrupted when a spectator ran onto the field to take a selfie with Mbappé. In the 62nd minute, France’s coach Deschamps made three substitutions to bolster their offense, but they struggled to capitalize. A missed opportunity by Camavinga highlighted France’s frustrations, while Mbappé’s late attempt to equalize soared over the bar.

Despite dominating possession in the second half, France couldn’t find a breakthrough, appearing fatigued and uninspired as Spain confidently approached the final whistle, cheered on by chants of “Ole” from their fans. Deschamps conceded that Spain deserved the win, acknowledging their superior control and technical prowess.

Mbappé, liberated from his protective mask for the match, made an immediate impact with an assist early on, marking France’s first non-penalty or own goal at Euro 2024. Lamine Yamal, Spain’s youngest-ever scorer in the tournament, expressed joy at his pivotal goal, emphasizing team unity and enjoyment. Dani Olmo reflected on Spain’s journey to the final, celebrating their collective effort and determination.

“We are very close, just one more step to go,” said Olmo, emphasizing Spain’s focus on the upcoming final and their deserving place in it.

Yamal Impresses

Yamal’s goal set a new record previously held by Switzerland’s Johan Vonlathen since 2004, when Vonlathen scored against France at 18 years and 141 days old. Vonlathen’s achievement came just four days after Wayne Rooney of England set the youngest goal-scorer record.

Turning 17 on July 13, Yamal had already been a pivotal figure for Spain throughout Euro 2024. He featured in all six of Spain’s matches, starting five of them. His contributions included an assist in the tournament opener against Croatia and assists in Spain’s first two knockout round games.

“I’m very happy to have made it to the final,” said man-of-the-match Yamal. “Now the most important thing is to win it. We were in a difficult moment, you wouldn’t expect a goal so soon.”

“I don’t know if it is the best goal of the tournament, but it is the most special goal for me because it is my first goal with the team at a European Championship,” he said.     

“I wanted to put it in where it went in, and I’m very happy. I’m happy and content with the victory. I want to win, win and win,” added the teenager.

Spain now advances to the final, where they will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between the Netherlands and England, scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in Berlin.

Standout Players

Spain

Dani Olmo – 8 

Scored a crucial goal for Spain, driving a powerful shot into the French box, initially credited as an own goal by Kounde, after two exquisite touches. Threatening presence throughout the match

Lamine Yamal – 8

Made history as the youngest-ever goalscorer in men’s Euros with a stunning strike that put Spain in front. The 16-year-old also provided a perfect clipped cross early on, narrowly missed converting by Ruiz.

France

Mike Maignan – 7 

Dealt admirably with Yamal’s exceptional goal and Olmo’s decisive strike. Showed great reflexes to rush out and beat Williams to the ball early in the second half, demonstrating solid goalkeeping.

Kylian Mbappé – 7

Assisted Kolo Muani’s easy header with a well-placed cross at the back post. Put in a strong effort throughout the game, though still not performing at his peak, which proved costly for France in the closing stages.

Read more: Emerging Stars of Euro 2024: Betting on the Next Big Names

Spain vs Germany

In a thrilling Euro 2024 quarter-final showdown, Mikel Merino’s late goal in extra time secured a dramatic 2-1 victory for Spain over hosts Germany at the Stuttgart Arena. The match seemed destined for a penalty shootout until substitute Merino rose to head home Dani Olmo’s cross in the 119th minute, settling an eagerly anticipated contest that had reached fever pitch.

Spain dominated the first hour, squandering several chances before Olmo broke the deadlock six minutes into the second half with a clinical first-time finish into the bottom corner. Germany, under coach Julian Nagelsmann, made five substitutions in a desperate bid for an equalizer, which came in the 89th minute when Florian Wirtz, the Bundesliga’s player of the year, rifled home Joshua Kimmich’s header to force extra time.

Despite Germany’s spirited effort, it was Spain who found an extra gear when it counted most, leaving the home fans heartbroken after their team’s valiant display fell just short. The hosts pressed hard for a late goal, and tensions boiled over as Dani Carvajal received a second yellow card for a foul on Jamal Musiala, resulting in his dismissal. Carvajal, along with center-back Robin Le Normand, will now miss the semi-final, where Spain will face France.

Disappointment for Kroos

Toni Kroos stood in disbelief, his gaze fixed on the horizon with a mixture of shock and disappointment. This match marked his final competitive appearance, a farewell that fell far short of his aspirations on home turf. 

Despite his six Champions League triumphs with Real Madrid, Kroos appeared as someone who would have exchanged them all for a more satisfying end. Nagelsmann’s squad had revitalized belief in Die Mannschaft, contrasting sharply with their early exits from two World Cups, yet their ambitions soared even higher.

France vs Portugal

France secured a spot in the Euro 2024 semi-finals by defeating Portugal in a tense penalty shootout in Hamburg. The match saw limited attacking prowess from both teams, as goalkeepers Mike Maignan and Diogo Costa shone with crucial saves. Maignan notably denied close-range attempts from Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha, while Costa effectively neutralized threats from Kylian Mbappe.

It wasn’t until well past the hour mark that a significant chance emerged, with French goalkeeper Mike Maignan forced into action twice to deny both Bruno Fernandes and Vitinha. As the game approached full-time, substitute Ousmane Dembele injected fresh energy into the French attack and located Eduardo Camavinga in open space, only for Camavinga to miss the target with his shot.

In extra time, Joao Felix had an opportunity to secure victory for Portugal but narrowly missed the target, hitting the side-netting, and later struck the woodwork from a crucial penalty kick.

After a goalless draw through 120 minutes of play, the match was decided by penalties. Cristiano Ronaldo successfully converted his spot-kick for Portugal, but France responded flawlessly. Joao Felix’s crucial miss, hitting the post on Portugal’s third penalty, tilted the balance in favor of Les Bleus. Theo Hernandez then sealed the victory with a superb finish, as France triumphed 5-3 in the shootout, setting up a semi-final clash against Spain.

Mental Fortitude

“We knew it would be a tough game, but our solid defense and mental strength, especially during the shootout, made the difference,” said Maignan.

In the 67th minute, a swift counter led by Randal Kolo Muani and Kounde sent the striker through on goal, only for Ruben Dias to make a crucial goal-saving tackle for Portugal. France continued to struggle with finishing chances when substitute Dembele’s skill set up Eduardo Camavinga, who inexplicably missed a close-range opportunity shortly after.

“You have to wonder what might have happened if we had converted our chances. The opponent wasn’t particularly clinical either,” remarked France coach Didier Deschamps. “But it’s clear to me that we deserve our place in the semi-finals. However, I would prefer a team that is more efficient in front of goal.”

The most glaring miss, however, came from Ronaldo three minutes into extra time, as Francisco Conceicao’s initiative saw him cut in from the byline and set up his captain for what could have been a fairy-tale finish. Yet, the forward failed to capitalize on the opportunity.

Read more: Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals: England vs Switzerland and Netherlands vs Turkiye