Comeback goals from Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane fired England to their first major final since 1966, as Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions came from behind to defeat Denmark 2-1 at Wembley in their Euro 2020 semi-final.
Mikkel Damsgaard put Denmark ahead in the 30th minute with a stunning free-kick into the top left corner, after Luke Shaw fouled Andreas Christiansen during an initial free-kick.
England however were only behind for nine minutes before Bukayo Saka teed up Raheem Sterling to fire in from close range, only for Simon Kjaer to get in front and divert the equaliser into his own net.
Denmark however survived a difficult second half to take the game to extra time but Joakim Maehle conceded a penalty in the 102nd minute with a foul on Sterling, from which Kane two minutes later fired in on rebound after his spot-kick was initially blocked to wrap up victory.
England will now meet Italy in the Grand Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Sunday 11 July at 8pm BST, after Roberto Mancini’s Azzurri overcame Spain on penalties to book their place in the final after a 1-1 draw yesterday evening (6 July).
A nervy start saw England do most of the pressing with very few chances except for Mason Mount’s third minute strike from Shaw’s pass, which came to nothing as Kasper Schmeichel made a save via a deflection.
Sterling saw a chance ten minutes later go begging as his low curled shot was straight into Schmeichel’s arms, before Harry Kane rifled over in the 15th minute.
Denmark thereafter began to impose themselves with Damsgaard curling wide in the 25th minute before Mount fouled Kasper Dolberg three minutes later, with the first free-kick cleared by Declan Rice as Shaw tugs Andreas Christiansen to ground just outside of the left corner.
Damsgaard stepped up in the 30th minute to blast Denmark’s second consecutive free-kick over the wall into the near-top left corner, sending a rowdy Wembley Stadium into shock silence as the Danes took the early lead.
The Danes’ lead however was to be short-lived as Sterling smashed a 38th minute shot into Schmeichel’s chest from yards out, just moments before Kane played Saka up the right to pull back across for Sterling to poke in an equaliser although Kjaer got just in front and diverted an own goal into his own net.
Saka won a free-kick three minutes into the second half as England started brightly but the set piece came to nothing, as Dolberg and Braithwaite then missed chances for Denmark in successive minutes with excellent blocks from Pickford.
Up the other end, Schmeichel was soon in action as Maguire headed a 55th minute header towards the left corner only for his former Leicester teammate to punch the attempt away from goal.
Dolberg then saw an on-turn shot in the 59th minute saved by Pickford before Mount, Sterling, Kalvin Phillips, John Stones and Maguire all saw late chances go begging, as a shattered Denmark clung on to force extra time despite making five substitutions to England’s one change.
Fatigue amongst Danish players soon became apparent as England seized control with Kane seeing a 93rd minute shot blocked by Schmeichel, with Sterling nine minutes later forcing a foul from Maehle to win a decisive penalty.
After a VAR check, Kane stepped up and fired towards the right but Schmeichel dived correctly to make a block, only for Kane to quickly pounce on his fumble to rifle across into the bottom left corner on the rebound to put the Three Lions on the verge of a first final in 55 years.
England thereafter dug deep to hold on to their hard-worked lead and clinch victory to set up a mouth-watering final against Italy, which is the Three Lions’ first major final since 1966 coincidentally at the same stadium.
‘top performance’
Speaking post match to ITV, Sterling praised his teammates for delivering a “top performance” after having to “dig deep” to come from behind with “good spirit.”
Sterling also spoke about what the team expected at the start of the match, commenting: “We knew it would be difficult. We stayed patient and we knew the legs and aggressiveness we have in the team we’d be okay.
Kane meanwhile was feeling the adrenaline post-match as he praised Denmark for their part in this contest, saying: “”Unbelievable – what a game though, credit to Denmark. We dug deep and we got there when it mattered. We reacted really well – we’re in a final at home, what a feeling.”
‘so proud of the players’
England manager, Gareth Southgate spoke of his pride at England’s historical achievement post-match to ITV, commenting: “I’m so proud of the players. It’s an incredible occasion to be a part of. The fans were incredible all night. We knew it wouldn’t be straightforward.
“The game in Rome was straightforward. We said to the players we have to show resilience and come back after setbacks and we did that.”
Southgate also described Sterling as “a thorn” in Denmark’s side which proved the difference as he won the decisive penalty, which was converted on the rebound after Schmeichel’s save with the ex Middlesbrough boss praising Schmeichel for being a “great goalkeeper.”
Reflecting on his confidence in England’s chances pre-match and pride in delivering a fantastic result for fans and the nation, Southgate commented: “I felt we’d get there but I knew we’d have a different sort of battle. Denmark are so underrated as a team and they caused us a lot of troubles.
“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.
“The most pleasing thing is we’ve given the fans and nation a fantastic night and the journey carries on for another four days.”
Stat Attack
- With victory, England have ended a four semi-final match hoodoo in all major tournaments stretching back to 1968 Euros when lost 1-0 to Yugoslavia (World Cup – 1990, 2018, Euro – 1968, 1996).
- Denmark have now lost three of their four semi-final appearances at Euro tournaments (1964, 1984, 2021), with the only exception being in 1992 when they went on to lift the trophy.
- All four of Harry Kane’s goals in this tournament has come in the knockout stages.
Teams
England: Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Kalvin Phillips, Declan Rice (Henderson 95′), Bukayo Saka (Grealish 69′, Trippier 106′), Mason Mount (Foden 95′), Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane
Substitutes: Jack Grealish, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Kieran Trippier, Aaron Ramsdale (GK), Tyrone Mings, Conor Coady, Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden, Sam Johnstone (GK), Reece James, Jude Bellingham
Denmark: Kasper Schmeichel, Andreas Christiansen (Andersen 79′), Simon Kjaer, Jannik Vestergaard (Wind 105′), Jens Stryger Larsen (Wass 67′), Thomas Delaney (Jensen 88′), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Joakim Maehle, Martin Braithwaite, Kasper Dolberg (Norgaard 67′), Mikkel Damsgaard (Poulsen 67)
Substitutes: Joachim Andersen, Robert Skov, Andreas Skov Olsen, Mathias Jorgensen, Christian Norgaard, Jonas Lossl (GK), Daniel Wass, Jonas Wind, Yussuf Poulsen, Andreas Cornelius, Frederik Ronnow, Mathias Jensen
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