WHO says Gareth Southgate doesn’t make game-changing substitutions? With ten minutes of last night’s Euro 2024 semi-final remaining, and with his side having been pegged back after a superb first-half showing, Southgate threw on Ollie Watkins to replace Harry Kane. Ten minutes later, and England’s latest super-sub had fired his side to their first major tournament final on overseas soil. Watkins’ finish settled a thrilling semi-final that had seen England play their best football of the tournament by a distance in the opening 45 minutes, only to retreat back into their shell in the second half.
Harry Kane had cancelled out Xavi Simons’ early opened via a hotly-contested penalty, Phil Foden had curled a brilliant effort against the upright and Bukayo Saka had seen a second-half goal ruled out for the narrowest of offsides. Was it not going to be England’s night? Watkins had other ideas, converting his only opportunity of the evening with the kind of clinical composure that has been a feature of his side’s key moments throughout the tournament. Spain will start as favourites on Sunday, but England have seemingly unstoppable momentum on their side.
While Marc Guehi was back in last night’s line-up replacing his weekend stand-in, Ezri Konsa, Southgate stuck with the new defensive shape he had introduced for the Switzerland game. Seven minutes in, however, and the English backline was breached by a wonderful Dutch opener. Declan Rice wasn’t quite able to bring th.
