This was England’s biggest game since the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, could they go one better this time and reach their 1st major tournament final since 1966 ?
This semi-final was watched in front of 67,500 fans in the stadium and over 20 million of us watched at home. What an occasion it promised to be as England took on Denmark for a place in the Euro 2020 final against Italy back at Wembley on Sunday 11th July.
So, could England make their 1st ever Euros final, or would Denmark’s remarkable story continue?
It was at Wembley Stadium.
After 6 minutes, good buildup by England and Kane crossed towards Sterling but he didn’t connect with it.
Six minutes later, England won the ball back and Mount headed to Kane who in turn passed to Sterling who cut inside and shot from outside the box but it was easily saved by Schmeichel.
Two minutes later, Kane had a shot from outside the box but it went well over, at the other end Braithwaite had a shot which was straight at Pickford. Then Pickford threw it straight to Denmark and Damsgaard’s shot was deflected for a corner which Pickford punched away.
After 25 minutes, good play by Denmark and Damsgaard shot wide. At the other end, Saka did well to win a free kick, and the 1st ball came to nothing, the ball came back to Shaw and the cross went towards Kane who couldn’t get to it.
1st Denmark goal
Just before the half hour, Denmark won a freekick and the original freekick came to nothing, however the ref spotted a foul on Christensen and awarded a freekick a little bit closer in , up stepped Damsgaard who hit a terrific shot which cleared the wall and dipped high into the net, past a diving Pickford, and England had conceded their 1st goal of the tournament, how would they respond?
After 35 minutes, Kane got fouled for a freekick in a dangerous area for England, Sterling did a shuffled run up and hit it straight into the wall.
Three minutes later, good play by England as Kane crossed to Sterling who got ahead of his marker to stroke the ball goalbound but Schmeichel was already off his line and saved well with his body.
England equaliser
Then a minute later, Wembley and the whole of England erupted as another good move by England saw Kane play Saka in behind the defence , and he squared the ball towards Sterling who put it into the back of the net, but it came off Denmark defender Kjaer so went down as an own goal, but England were level and responded to going behind for the 1st time.
Halftime score: England 1-1 Denmark
So it was an interesting 1st half, England started bright, Denmark got the goal and then England responded, how would the 2nd half go?
Three minutes into the 2nd half, Saka took Vestergaard on and got fouled, Mount delivered the freekick onto Maguire’s head , but the foul went against Maguire.
Three minutes later, Dolberg shot outside the box was saved well by Pickford but Dolberg was offside anyway.
After 54 minutes, there was good play by Sterling who found Kane out wide and Kane got fouled for a freekick, which Mount delivered onto Maguire’s head and a combination of Schmeichel’s hand and the outright of the post denied Maguire his 2nd goal of the tournament.
Just before the hour mark, Dolberg shot from outside the area was straight at Pickford. Then a minute later, more good play by England and Shaw’s cross deflected off Hojberg for a corner which came to nothing.
Just after the hour mark, Mount was in on goal but he cut inside and didn’t shoot and the chance went.
A couple of minutes later, after a good period by England, Mount’s shot went straight at Schmeichel.
With 17 minutes remaining, Mount mishit a cross and it ended up being a chip over Schmeichel who tipped it over the bar for a corner which came to nothing. A minute later, Kane looked like he was fouled and was checked by VAR, but the VAR said no penalty as Kane kicked thew defenders foot first.
With ten minutes remaining, Mount crossed towards Kane which was cleared to Phillips who shot wide from outide the box, but England were pushing could they find a winner before extra time?
A couple of minutes later, Shaw’s freekick onto Stones head and headed wide.
In the 3rd minute of stoppage time, good patient play by England and in the end it came to Phillips who blasted it over. A minute later, Kane won a freekick which Mount delivered and Maguire’s header was straight at Schmeichel.
In the last minute of stoppage time, Kane’s shot eventually was eventually blocked.
Fulltime score: England 1-1 Denmark
Towards the end of the match, England were dominating and pushing for the winner but they couldn’t get it would that pattern continue into extra time which was the 1st time this tournament England have had to go to extra time?
In the 3rd minute of extra time, Kane had a half chance after Sterling played the ball down the left side which was saved by Schmeichel, for a England corner from which Maguire’s header was cleared off the line.
In the 8th minute of extra time, Grealish had a shot saved , then Sterling shot over.
Penalty to England and 2nd goal
Then a massive moment as Sterling got fouled in the area by Vestergaard and the referee blew for a penalty, VAR checked it and the penalty was given. ITV commentator Sam Matterface said before the penalty was taken “Try and watch it, good luck?
Kane stepped up and hit a weak penalty shot which Schmeichel saved but Kane was too quick on the follow-up and he knocked the ball to the left past the diving Schmeichel for his 4th goal of the tournament and England were ahead in the semi-final.
Halftime of extra time: England 2-1 Denmark
England deservedly ahead, could they push on and get a 3rd to make sure or would Denmark find one more chance to take it to penalties?
At the start of the 2nd half of extra time, Grealish got subbed and was replaced by Trippier, which at the time looked strange as Grealish had been a sub who came on, but Southgate wanted it to be a more defensive formaion for the final 15 minutes.
After 114 minutes, Braithwaite’s shot was deflected for a corner which Kane headed away.
In the last five minutes of the match, England just kept the ball brilliantly with a growing confidence, knowing they had almost made it.
The very last action saw Sterling nearly score as he dribbled well into the box only to be stopped at short range by Schmeichel.
Fulltime in extra time: England 2-1 Denmark
So an incredible night as England made it into the FINAL of Euro 2020 against Italy and their 1st ever Euros final, and only the 2nd ever final they’ve been in.
The players at the end of the game were singing Sweet Caroline with the fans, it was an incredible night and for young generations of England fans like me who have only ever known pain and defeats for England, this was a special special night.
Highlights of this incredible night are at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjZO9UGzpD0
Next for England is the final against Italy on Sunday July 11th 2021 with an 8pm kickoff both on BBC and ITV and what an occasion it promises to be, is football coming home?
