England’s Euro joy a salve for painful wounds
Three Lions get extra-time winner from Kane, into final against Italy after dashing Danish dream run
LONDON (Reuters) – Of course it had to be a penalty. Every law of poetic justice decreed so. And of course England’s captain missed it. In extra time. But this time there was a twist.
A fraction of a second after pushing his spot kick too close to the outstretched Kasper Schmeichel, Harry Kane lifted the rebound into the net to propel England past Denmark 2-1 and into the final of Euro 2020.
It was a goal to boost a nation and help salve the sores of so many bitter defeats.
As one, almost 60,000 supporters in Wembley Stadium, and a nation watching in its homes, leapt to their feet and cried to the skies, none more so than England manager Gareth Southgate.
“We’ve given our fans and our nation a fantastic night and the journey carries on for another four days,” Southgate said.
“We’ve said we want to create memories... I’ve said to the young [players] ‘it isn’t always like this.’”
It certainly isn’t.
Whether it was that 1996 Euros loss to Germany on this same Wembley pitch, or the World Cup penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Argentina in St. Etienne 1998, or heartbreak against the Germans in the 1990 World Cup semifinals in Turin, England fans the length and breadth of the country have penalty horror stories to recount.
So it was somehow fitting that a penalty – a slightly scuffed one at that – should decide this semi-final.
“I chose the side I was going to go, it wasn’t the best executed penalty I’ve ever had,” Kane said. “Sometimes you miss and it falls your way and thankfully it did today.
“Unbelievable – what a game though,” said Kane. “We dug deep and we got there when it mattered. We reacted really well – we’re in a final at home, what a feeling.”
This victory marked the first time England won a Euros knockout game after trailing, and was also the first time England has done so in a major tournament since the 3-2 win over Cameroon in the World Cup 1990 quarterfinals.
Now England and its long-suffering fans finally have the chance to add another trophy to the 1966 World Cup after the Three Lions overcame Denmark to reach the European Championship final for the first time.
Harry Kane’s goal, following up after his penalty had been saved, finally saw off battling Denmark to set up a Sunday showdown against Italy, also looking to shake off the’60s as it seeks to win the title it last lifted in 1968.
On a night to remember in front of almost 60,000 roaring fans, England fell behind to Mikkel Damsgaard’s superb free kick, equalized with an own-goal, dominated the game
and then won it via its captain, albeit somewhat unconvincingly, in the 104th minute.
It was of course a particularly special night for coach Southgate, whose penalty shootout miss sent England out of the semifinals of Euro 96.
“We said to the players at some point we’re going to have to show resilience and come back from setbacks, and we did that tonight,” he said. “The most pleasing thing is that we’ve given our fans and our nation a fantastic night and the journey carries on for another four days.”
It was a tough way for Denmark to end its emotional ride from the fear and distress of Christian Eriksen’s opening game collapse to its first semifinal since its shock Euro 92 win, but the exhausted Danish players left Wembley with socks rolled down but heads held high.
“I am proud of this group and everyone who has been on this journey. It has been fantastic to be involved. I am hungry and empty, but I am also proud,” said Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.
Having swept past Ukraine 4-0 in the quarterfinals, England knew it faced a considerable step up on Wednesday and the quality in the Danish ranks was amply illustrated after 30 minutes when Damsgaard fired a powerful, dipping 25-yard free kick over the wall and beyond the diving Jordan Pickford.
England had reached the semis without conceding a goal and the crowd was stunned. The question of how England would respond to its first real setback would now be addressed.
The answer was calmly and patiently, as it passed their way back into the ascendancy. Raheem Sterling was denied at point-blank range by Schmeichel before the 39th-minute equalizer, when Bukayo Saka hit the byline and fizzed over a low cross that Simon Kjaer bundled over his own line in his attempt to stop the ball reaching Sterling.
Schmeichel was on hand again with an excellent diving save to palm away a Harry Maguire header and England began to turn the screw in the second half, but, despite its relentless passing and probing around the box, England struggled to carve out a clear opening and the match rolled into extra time.
The extra 30 minutes became a virtual attack vs defense exercise, as Schmeichel saved again from Kane and Jack Grealish and the fear of penalties began to rise among the home fans.
The ever-dangerous Sterling continued to drive into the box though and was eventually brought down by Joakim Maehle for the VAR-reviewed penalty that Kane struck poorly and Schmeichel blocked, only for the captain to tuck home the rebound.
England then negotiated the last 15 minutes to spark the loudest, and surely most confident rendition of “Football’s Coming Home,” ever to ring around Wembley.
“When you’ve waited as long as we have to get through a semi-final, the players – considering the limited international experience some of them have – have done an incredible job,” Southgate said.
“We suffered in Moscow [in the 2018 World Cup semifinal defeat by Croatia] on a night like this and we’ve managed to put that right. It’s an incredible occasion to be a part of. The fans were incredible all night. There was mayhem on the pitch and I was part of it. We’ve got to enjoy the fact we’re in the final but there’s one more massive hurdle to conquer.”
Sunday on TV: Euro 2020 final: