Jamie Carragher predicts England will raise their game against ‘better opposition’ to beat the Netherlands and book their place in a second successive European Championship final. England recovered from going a goal down to get the better of Switzerland on penalties last time out , with Cole Palmer , Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Ivan Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold all converting from 12 yards in confident fashion. Saka had earlier beat Yann Sommer with a curling effort from range to cancel out Breel Embolo’s 75th-minute opener, forcing extra time in Dusseldorf.
The Three Lions have won just one of their five contests in normal time heading into tonight’s eagerly anticipated semi-final and Southgate has faced heavy criticism for the team’s largely underwhelming displays in Germany. However, there is a growing sense of optimism among fans that England can go all the way and win a first major trophy in 58 years, with just two wins separating Harry Kane and Co from glory. Victory over the Netherlands would see England book a spot in Sunday’s showpiece to face Spain, who came from behind to get the better of France in Tuesday’s thrilling semi-final .
‘I’m excited. It’s a huge game. I think we felt at the start of the tournament that England had a decent chance of going far in the Euros,’ ex-England and Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports.
‘You need a little bit of luck, anyone does in a knockout competition, and we had that in the last couple of rounds.
