England’s 55-year wait to reach a major men’s final is over at last after victory against Denmark at Euro 2020, on a night of nerve-shredding tension then unconfined joy at Wembley.
Gareth Southgate’s side were on a mission to travel one step further than any England side had done since the 1966 World Cup final win against West Germany, and they finally achieved the long-cherished goal as they came from behind to triumph in extra time.
In front of 66,000 fans and in a frenzied, thunderous atmosphere this newer Wembley has not experienced before, England battled their way out of adversity to secure a meeting with Italy in the final at the same venue on Sunday (20:00 BST kick-off).
They had to fight for victory against steely opponents – who had an inspired keeper in Kasper Schmeichel – especially after conceding their first goal of the tournament to Mikkel Damsgaard’s stunning free-kick after 30 minutes.
But they replied quickly as Denmark captain Simon Kjaer turned in Bukayo Saka’s threatening cross six minutes before the break.
Schmeichel was Denmark’s hero as the hosts sought the winner, saving brilliantly from Harry Maguire and Harry Kane as the game went into extra time and the prospect of penalties loomed large.
The moment the nation has awaited so long effectively arrived with Wembley’s giant screens showing 103 minutes and captain Kane standing over a penalty after Raheem Sterling had been fouled by Joakim Maehle.
Denmark were unhappy with the decision, which was checked by VAR.
And in keeping with England’s long and tortuous history, it was not straightforward as the normally ice-cool Kane saw an awful penalty saved by Schmeichel – but the rebound fell at his feet for him to score.
Kane has now equalled Gary Lineker’s long-standing record of 10 goals for England at major tournaments.
Wembley went wild with deafening noise and crazy celebrations and, after all the years of hurt, England have the golden opportunity to finally claim a major crown.
England pass test of nerve
On an unforgettable night, England answered two of the most crucial questions surrounding them.
For all the promise and progress since the bitter disappointment of defeat in the World Cup semi-finals in Moscow in 2018, the players and manager needed to prove they could overcome what has proved to be an insurmountable hurdle for both themselves and their predecessors, after they also came up short in the last four at the Italia 90 World Cup and Euro 96.
This was the acid test – at least before Sunday’s final with formidable Italy – and they came up with the goods not only in the context of Euro 2020 but also in demonstrating their character and big-match mentality.
England went into this semi-final on a wave of expectation and optimism after the last-16 victory against Germany at Wembley was followed up by the emphatic 4-0 demolition of Ukraine in the quarter-final in Rome.
And they faced a test of their nerve when they fell behind to this excellent Danish side, Damsgaard’s free-kick the first goal Jordan Pickford had conceded in 725 minutes for England.
England were ragged at this point but the response was full of conviction, equalising swiftly then taking control before the tiring Danes and the magnificent Schmeichel were finally overcome with Kane’s winner.
Southgate’s team has crossed a barrier no England team has made it beyond since Sir Alf Ramsey’s World Cup winners – now we wait to see if it will give them the confidence and belief to clear the final hurdle.
Southgate’s big guns fire England to final
As Southgate will have demanded of them, England’s big players made their impact when it mattered most on a night when failure would have been hard to bear.
Kane, who struggled to get into Euro 2020 during the group stage, rode his luck to score his fourth and most important goal of the tournament after his missed penalty, but his performance was full of energy and menace.
He is back to his best and how England will need that against the two great Italian central-defensive warriors Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, who have a quality and street-wisdom reflected in their combined total of 70 years.
Sterling continued his superb tournament, reflected in the run that earned England’s match-winning penalty, hitting at the heart of Denmark’s outstanding defence until he finally drew the crucial mistake.
And Manchester United captain Harry Maguire, an injury doubt who did not even make the start of the tournament, is now back in the role where Southgate wants him – defensive leader, powerhouse and ever-present set-piece danger at one end and blockade at the other.
Once the euphoria has died down and England’s heroes clear their heads, they must go above and beyond the call of duty once more.
Beaten Denmark can hold their heads high
There were tears among Denmark’s players as the final whistle sounded on their Euro 2020 campaign, one which began with the trauma of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest in their opening game against Finland then went on to be a huge credit to coach Kapser Hjulmand and his team.
Denmark had the air of a squad on a mission as Eriksen thankfully continues his recovery but they were not simply fuelled by emotion, this was a team with quality and character who fully deserved to reach the last four.
When they went to applaud their fans at the final whistle, their colourful followers gave Denmark the huge ovation they deserved.
And, make no mistake, Denmark made this a very awkward night for England but might just curse the failure to protect their lead to half-time against opponents who were on the ropes when they went ahead.
This was a cruel night for coach Hjulmand and his team – but they have graced Euro 2020 with their strength, unity and their performances.
Pickford’s record – the best of the stats
- Jordan Pickford set a new record for an England goalkeeper for most minutes without conceding – 725 – overtaking Gordon Banks’ 720 minutes set between May/July 1966.
- England won a European Championship knockout game after going behind for the first time, while it’s the first time they have done so in a major tournament since a 3-2 win over Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup quarter-final.
- This was the seventh game at Euro 2020 to go to extra time, with the 1990 and 2014 World Cups the only major tournaments to see more matches go to the extended period (eight each).
- Mikkel Damsgaard’s opening goal for Denmark was the first direct free-kick goal of Euro 2020 with what was the 37th direct free-kick shot.
- Jack Grealish became the third England player to be both subbed on and subbed off in a match at a major tournament, after Jamie Redknapp (v Scotland in Euro 1996) and Aaron Lennon (v Portugal in the 2006 World Cup).
- At 19 years and 305 days, Bukayo Saka became the youngest Englishman to start a match at the semi-final stage or later of a major tournament.
BBC Sports