England are in the European Championship final after unconvincing performances in the preliminary round. The comments in the European media are mixed with recognition and sympathy.
England has made it to the final of the European Football Championship. Coach Gareth Southgate’s team beat the Netherlands 2-1 in Dortmund on Wednesday evening and will now play Spain for the title in Berlin on Sunday. In front of 60,926 spectators in Dortmund, Harry Kane (18th minute/penalty) and Ollie Watkins (90th+1), who came on for Kane, turned the game around with their goals after an early deficit. Xavi Simons (7th) had put the Netherlands in the lead.
This is how international media commented on England’s semi-final victory against the Netherlands:
England
“The Sun”
“What a finish. England are in the final of Euro 2024 after super-sub Ollie Watkins brought down Holland in the last minute.”
“Mirror”
“Semi-sational: Super-joker Ollie Watkins sends England into ecstasy.”
“DailyMail“
“Oh WHAT a night! England fans start ecstatic celebrations after the historic, late win against the Netherlands, which sees them reach the first final on foreign soil. Players’ wives and stars such as Adele and Ed Sheeran cheer the Three Lions on from the stands.”
“The Telegraph”
“Ollie Watkins’ 90th-minute goal against the Netherlands puts England into the final of Euro 2024. (…) National coach Gareth Southgate celebrated with his players after the final whistle after leading England to the final of a major tournament on foreign soil for the first time.”
“The Guardian”
“They still don’t play dream football, although they were very good in the first half. But nothing – not even Pep Guardiola’s dream of 99 percent possession – compares to the euphoria of comebacks and late victories.”
Netherlands
“AD”
“Dutch European Championship dreams shattered after painful semi-final defeat against England. A late goal by substitute Ollie Watkins plunged Oranje into mourning on Wednesday evening in Dortmund: 2:1. At the last minute, the Dutch team missed their first European Championship final since 1988.”
“The Telegraph”
“Oranje’s European Championship dream shattered after late goal. National coach Ronald Koeman’s team lost 2-1 to England in the semi-finals. In the final phase, substitute Watkins scored the winning goal for the English.”
“The People’s Newspaper”
“For a long time it looked as if the game would go into extra time, but it was substitute Watkins who shot England into the final. In the remaining minutes the Netherlands were no longer able to prevail against the English.”
EM 2024 compact
King Charles congratulates England on reaching the final – and has a request
Spain
“Brand”
“England sneaks into the final in the 91st minute: we have a rival.”
“AS”
“Football always throws up names you don’t expect, players who didn’t even exist until their big night. One of them is Ollie Watkins. Forever. For eternity. The Villa striker put England ahead, a punch to the jaw for the Netherlands and Koeman.”
“Sports World”
“England have a new hero. Ollie Watkins scored a spectacular goal almost out of nowhere and in injury time to take his country to the European Championship final for the second year in a row – this time against Spain in Berlin. The Netherlands failed miserably.”
France
“RMC Sport”
“After a close semi-final against the Netherlands, England secured their place in the final thanks to a decisive goal from Ollie Watkins in the closing stages. The Three Lions will fight for the title against La Roja on Sunday.
Switzerland
“View”
“Ollie Watkins is the hero at the end, shooting the English to Berlin with his last-minute goal. Extremely bitter for the Oranje, but they can be more than proud of their performance at this European Championship. Nevertheless, Ronald Koeman’s team is of course heartbroken at the moment.”
“Daily Advertiser”
“The joker strikes – just before the end, England manages to turn things around. With their best tournament performance so far, England actually makes it to the European Championship final.”
Close but through: England is in the final – all highlights in the video
05:54 min
Austria
“Crown”
“They can roar like lions and not just purr like kittens – after less than mediocre performances at the 2024 European Championships so far, England’s Three Lions have actually made it to the final of the finals.”
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
