England advances to Euro 2024 finals on thrilling injury-time goal

DORTMUND, Germany — Super sub Ollie Watkins sent England into the final of Euro 2024 with a sensational injury-time winner to defeat the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday.

Watkins, who had earlier come on for captain Harry Kane and had been used sparingly in the tournament, collected a pass from fellow substitute Cole Palmer and smacked it into the Dutch net.

As a result, England will now face Spain for the title on Sunday, seeking to atone for its defeat on penalties to Italy three years ago.

Earlier, the Netherlands made its best start of the tournament and surged into an early lead on the back of a blistering strike from Xavi Simons.

Simons took the ball from Declan Rice after seven minutes and blasted it just beyond Jordan Pickford's reach and into the top corner.

England had gone behind in each of its previous knockout round games and managed to find a way back — and it did so again.

There was immediately more urgency, but when Kane's shot flew over the bar, it appeared a solid chance had gone begging. However, a VAR review found Kane had been recklessly challenged by Denzel Dumfries, and the England captain duly deposited the equalizing spot-kick into Bart Verbruggen's bottom corner.

Gareth Southgate's men were playing their best soccer of the tournament, with far more direction and energy. Phil Foden was lively and twice went close, first with a tap through Verbruggen's legs that was cleared off the line by Dumfries, then a signature left-foot curler from outside the area that clipped the outside of the post.

The Dutch weren't seeing much of the ball and had Memphis Depay removed through injured, but managed to hit the woodwork themselves, Dumfries — seemingly involved in everything — nodding against the post from a