In the second European Championship semi-final, England prevailed against Denmark and are now in the final against Italy. Only a controversial penalty in extra time brought the decision.
England in penalty luck! Carried by the spectacular atmosphere in the football temple Wembley, the Three Lions reached the final of a European Championship for the first time and ended Denmark’s wondrous summer trip. In a tense semi-final in front of 64,950 spectators on Wednesday evening, thanks to top striker Harry Kane, the English prevailed 2: 1 (1: 1, 1: 1) after extra time and also attacked Italy in the final on Sunday in London after their only second Title after the World Cup triumph in 1966. Coach Gareth Southgate was able to defeat his personal semi-final trauma with the penalty missed against Germany in 1996 after 25 years.
In extra time, Kane (104th minute) was on the spot with a penalty margin after Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel had parried his controversial penalty. In the regular season, the Three Lions came back into play with an own goal by Danish captain Simon Kjaer (39th). The Danes’ lead through a free-kick from youngster Mikkel Damsgaard (30th) lasted only nine minutes. 25 days after the dramatic collapse of star player Christian Eriksen, Danish Dynamite was proud to say goodbye to the Pan-European tournament.
England’s longing for the European title
It was the very special football swing that swirled through London, through all of England. The longing for this time and again unattainable title, pent up in more than half a century, was palpable everywhere, but nowhere more than in the stands at Wembley Stadium. “It’s coming home”, “Sweet Caroline” and of course “God save the Queen” were fervently voiced as classics of the EM summer. And the corona worries? Collectively pushed aside in front of the biggest backdrop since the outbreak of the pandemic.
England shows its new self-confidence against initially deep Danes. Kane hit a good diagonal ball on Raheem Sterling (6th), who came a step too late in the penalty area. Shortly afterwards, the Manchester City striker (13th) did not put enough pressure on the ball.
Damsgaard scores with a free kick
Denmark relied on the counterattack and slowly dared to do more. Damsgaard took a too fast throw from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (15th) – but the lapse did not result in more than one corner. Damsgaard (25th) approached with a flick.
A little later, Pickford had broken the English record of 720 minutes without conceding Gordon Banks from the year of the 1966 World Cup triumph. But then Damsgaard aimed exactly with a wonderful free kick. Pickford’s mark stopped at 725 minutes after the first goal against the tournament. Kane recognized the Three Lions’ precarious situation. Now stay awake and free in your head – that was how the star striker’s gesture was to be understood. The backdrop at Wembley couldn’t be mortgaged.
England fails several times because of flattery
And England came back quickly and aggressively as demanded by captain Kane and coach Southgate on the sidelines. Sterling initially failed completely free-standing because of the overwhelmingly responsive Schmeichel. In the next attack, Sterling Kjaer forced an own goal after a cross from Bukayo Sako, who had returned to the starting line-up for Jadon Sancho from Dortmund. One series was now broken. The two teams’ previous seven games at Wembley had always been won 1-0 by one team.
Pickford had to go back right after the break. He fished a shot from Kasper Dolberg (51st) from the lower corner. The Schmeichel, who had a lot of England experience in Leicester, did the same with a dangerous header from Harry Maguire (55th). Now the game was played with an open visor. And England increased the pressure. The so often passive way of playing at this European Championship has been abandoned. Much higher pressed Kane and Chelsea’s Champions League winner Mason Mount against the Danes, who were only trying to keep order.
Sterling falls and England take a penalty
The clock ticked down. The tension increased noticeably and it became hectic. England vehemently and unsuccessfully demanded a penalty when Kane (75th) went down in the penalty area after contact with Christian Nörgaard’s leg. Now good nerves were required. Kane missed the last chance in regular time in the seventh minute of stoppage time. After three minutes of extra time, the Spurs striker Schmeichel forced the next brilliant act. An English power play began and then Sterling fell under the distress of Joakim Maehle and Mathias Jensen. This time there was a penalty and Kane scored in the margin, luckily for England.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
