TV: England ready for historic European Championship final

On Wednesday, England faced Denmark where the winner would reach the European Championship final, a final that Italy was ready for on Tuesday after defeating Spain.

The match started at a high pace where Denmark was sharpest. The team created a number of dangers and in the end they got a dividend. Half an hour into the match, the team got a free kick a couple of meters outside the penalty area and with a cannon finish, Mikkel Damsgaard screwed in 1-0 for Denmark.

“Messi class on the free kick”, wrote the American journalist Grant Wahl about the goal on Twitter.

England, however, would come again and immediately after Denmark’s lead goal, pressure was created against the Danish goal – and the equalizer would come. With five minutes left in the first half, the team advanced on the offensive half and an input from Bukayo Saka was supported in their own net by Simon Kjær who was also disturbed by Raheem Sterling.

After the first half, the score was also 1-1 and in the second half the high pace continued where the match development was the same as in the first half. Denmark started best, but England took over where Harry Maguire also forced Kasper Schmeichel to a sharp parade when the midfielder got a nod towards goal.

At the end of the match, England created pressure against the Danish goal, but Denmark’s players sacrificed themselves and managed to clear and break at the last minute. The match thus went to extra time.

There, England was the stronger team in the first overtime quarter and at the end of the same, they also received penalties after Sterling collapsed in the penalty area. The outside fell in close combat with two Danish defenders and the contact was scarce. In any case, the referee chose to point to the penalty spot and the situation was also VAR-examined. Until the penalty spot, Harry Kane stepped up and fired a penalty if Schmeichel saved – but the return went straight to Kane who shaved in 2-1 in the open goal.

In the second overtime quarter, England sank further and further down the field and Denmark was able to lift a couple of balls, but it never became really dangerous.

England thus won the semi-final 2-1 and is ready for its first European Championship final ever. There they face Italy, a match that is played on Sunday.

– It was a top performance tonight. In the first half we conceded our first goal in the championship, but I think we responded well. We showed a good team spirit by coming back in the match, Sterling says to Uefa after the match.

– It has been a great tournament for Denmark. They lost to Finland, to Belgium and then had a discharge against Russia. It built momentum and they won against Wales and then against the Czech Republic. So if you look at how they started the tournament, they can be incredibly proud. Kasper Schmeichel, who I know closely, was fantastic again, says BBC expert Micah Richards.

Kane to Uefa:

– Unbelievable. What a game. All credit to Denmark, it was a tough match. We had to dig deep for chances, but managed to strike when the chance came. I think the guys were amazing across the board. We reacted very well when we ended up in a 1-0 disadvantage. Now a final awaits at home – what a feeling.

About his punishment, Kane says:

– I chose which side I would hit it. It was not my best hit in my career, but that’s football. Sometimes you miss.

– I think we have done an incredible tournament so far. Now there is only one match left and we can barely recover.

Startelvor:

England: Pickford – Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw – Phillips, Rice – Saka, Mount, Sterling – Kane.

Denmark: Schmeichel – Christensen, Kjær, Vestergaard – Stryger, Højbjerg, Delaney, Mæhle – Braithwaite, Dolberg, Damsgaard.

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