Football: Watkins’ big hero for England – pushed the country to the European Championship final in the final minutes

It was an eventful start to the EC semi-final between the Netherlands and England.

Already in the seventh minute, the orange-clad ones were 1-0. This when Xavi Simons drove the ball centrally outside the penalty area and found his way behind Jordan Pickford in England’s goal.

European Championship in soccer

With that goal, 21-year-old Simons became the youngest ever scorer in a European Championship play-off for the Netherlands.

Ten minutes later, the ball found Harry Kane in the Netherlands penalty area. He met it straight away and got a finish on the volley that went well wide.

Kane clinical

But the Netherlands’ Denzel Dumfries pushed the England striker’s foot with his own just in time for the finish and the VAR room called the referee’s attention. After checking the TV screen, Felix Zwayer chose to point to the penalty spot.

From there, Kane was clinical and equalized to make it 1-1. A result that stood up to the half-time break.

Watkins substitute hero

England had the first hot chance in the second half when Bukayo Saka thumped the ball into the roof of the net from close range, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

In the second the game clock went up to 90, substitute Ollie Watkins received the ball in the penalty area.

He turned around his defender and slotted the ball in at the far post to make it 2-1 for England.

Watch the decisive goal in the player above.

– We have talked about everyone having to be ready. We have a big squad but regardless of whether you start or play five minutes or one minute, you must always be ready and that you can always be the one who comes in and decides for us, says team captain Harry Kane about Watkins’ entry after the victory.

– We made it to the final and there is one match left to make history. We will be there and very much looking forward to it, continues Kane.

The EC final between Spain and England will be played at 21:00 on Sunday.