England shows swagger, style and depth of title contender in quarterfinal Ukraine rout
ROME (Reuters) – England put aside caution and fear to deliver a performance full of confidence bordering on swagger as it swept aside Ukraine 4-0 on Saturday to reach the Euro 2020 semifinals, looking like a genuine title contender in the process.
Wednesday’s opponent Denmark may offer a sterner test at Wembley than Ukraine provided at the Stadio Olimpico, and an eventual final against Spain or Italy is a different matter altogether, but if there were any doubts about England’s credentials they were answered.
Harry Kane scored twice – putting to bed the doubts raised by his sluggish form in the group stage – but from back to front England played with poise and confidence.
John Stones and Harry Maguire, took care of their defensive duties but also looked composed and elegant on the ball.
Left-back Luke Shaw was outstanding, making his bursts down the flank and providing the pinpoint crosses for headed goals from Maguire and Kane.
Raheem Sterling on the left set up Kane for England’s fourth minute opener and was constantly asking questions of the Ukraine defence with his dribbling and cuts in from the flank.
On the opposite wing, making his first start of the tournament, Jadon Sancho, with his deft touch and speed, showed why Manchester United spent over 70 million pounds ($96.75 million) to sign him from Borussia Dortmund.
With a three-goal lead established by the 50th minute, manager Gareth Southgate was able to take off players facing a possible suspension from another yellow card and also to show the unmatched range of options available to him.
Jordan Henderson, whose involvement has been restricted as he returned from injury, came on and promptly scored his first international goal in his 62nd appearance.
Marcus Rashford and Dominic Calvert-Lewin came on up front and 18-year-old Jude Bellingham also got some minutes in midfield.
All that and the talent of Jack Grealish and Phil Foden was left on the bench, a real indication of the strength in depth of Southgate’s squad.
England’s soccer in the group stage and in the 2-0 win against Germany in the roundof-16, had been organized and functional, but once Maguire made it 2-0 right after the break the real quality of this team began to show.
There were moments when it was almost Spanish style tiki-taka soccer with England keeping possession and creating passing triangles around midfield.
Sterling’s cheeky pass with his heel to set up Shaw for his cross for Kane’s second and England’s third was the sign of a player brimming with belief.
Ukraine was no match for England, but the Three Lions have labored against that level of team in the past and have frozen at the business end of the big tournaments – this time they look to be peaking at just the right moment.
Added to all the positive soccer and sharpness in attack, England kept its record of not conceding a goal in the tournament.
It was a tough exit for a Ukraine side that had fought so admirably to reach the lasteight, but it sets up what should be a thrilling week of soccer in London.
Italy and Spain clash on Tuesday at Wembley before the home favorite, looking for its first final since 1966, plays the following day against Denmark at the same stadium.
After the World Cup last-four loss to Croatia in 2018, this was the second straight major tournament semifinal for Southgate’s side and now the pressure is on to go all the way.
“This group are not settling for a semifinal,” said Maguire.
In Rome, England looked like a title contender. Now it has to prove its worth back on home soil.
Danes delighted to make nation proud
Meanwhile, Denmark’s players had two goals before their European Championship quarterfinal – beat the Czech Republic to reach the semis and make their nation proud. They achieved both on Saturday.
First-half goals from Thomas Delaney and Kasper Dolberg were enough to eke out a 2-1 win over the Czechs, who were briefly uplifted by Patrik Schick’s early second half goal which made the Danes sweat until the final whistle.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Kasper Schmeichel told Denmark’s DR TV. “We can fight and fight, and we did. It was a great relief when he blew the final whistle. Right now, we are going to enjoy it.
The Danes – who reached the semifinals for the first time since 1992 – have been riding a wave of emotion since playmaker Christian Eriksen survived a cardiac arrest in their group stage opener in Copenhagen.
Since then, Kasper Hjulmand’s side stormed into the knockout stages, where it convincingly beat Wales 4-0 in the last-16 in Amsterdam before the quarterfinal win set a date at Wembley where it will face either Ukraine or England.
A match in Baku meant only a few fans travelled, but there was still a sizeable and noisy Danish contingent in the stands spurring them on while the two goals sparked wild celebrations back home.
“We set a goal, we were going back to Wembley and now we are here. No, I’m looking forward, man,” goal scorer Delaney said. “I’m just looking forward to watching video from Copenhagen. It feels like we are at home. The support we get and the joy we feel. From Denmark to Baku, man. It’s so cool.”
Italy, Spain earn semifinal date
In Friday’s first two quarterfinals, Italy advance with a thrilling 2-1 win over Belgium as first-half goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne settled a gripping encounter against the No. 1-ranked team in the world.
Barella fired the opener after 31 minutes before Insigne’s wonderful curling strike doubled Italy’s advantage on the brink of halftime.
Romelu Lukaku pulled one back for Belgium in first-half stoppage time with a penalty, but neither side could find another goal and Roberto Mancini’s exciting side held on for a 13th straight win, extending its record unbeaten run to 32 games.
Italy will face Spain at Wembley on Tuesday for a place in the final after setting another record by winning 15 consecutive games including European Championship qualifiers and the finals.
Luis Enrique’s Spain side squeezed past Switzerland 3-1 in a penalty shootout earlier on Friday after its battling opponent clung to a 1-1 draw after extra time despite going down to 10 men.