🔬 The Debrief as Watkins' dramatic winner sends England to EURO 2024 final | OneFootball

The second of the semi-finals took place on Wednesday evening, with England and Netherlands competing for a place in the EURO 2024 final against Spain.

Here's what went down.

What happened? 📝

England found themselves behind after just seven minutes when Xavi Simons fired in a superb solo effort to put Netherlands in front.

A controversial VAR penalty award for Harry Kane saw the Bayern Munich man draw England level not long afterwards.

Just when it seemed the game was heading to extra-time, substitute Ollie Watkins sent the England fans wild with a goal that gave Netherlands no time to reply.

Player of the day 🔥

With all the (deserved) talk about Ollie Watkins tonight, we mustn't forget about a remarkable young player that was so influential in this game.

In fact, Gareth Southgate hasn't looked back since he brought 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo into the midfield after trying Trent Alexander-Arnold and Conor Gallagher in the same position at the start of the tournament.

His hardworking performance in the centre of the park kept England firing, especially in the first half.

And now he finds himself in the final of a major tournament.

Fairytale stuff.

Moment of the day 😍

It could only be this.

Moments like these don't come round very often, and they live long in the memories of all who witness them.

For only the second time in a European Championship knockout match, a player has scored a 90th minute winner. The other one was back in 2008.

This was the first major tournament goal for Ollie Watkins, and what a time to score it, as he sent England to the EURO 2024 final.

He had only been on the pitch for nine minutes.

Photo of the day 📸

A theme of the modern England team is having roots in non-league football.

After coming through the youth sector at Exeter City, Watkins went out on loan to Weston-super-Mare in 2014.

He never could've imagined that ten years later, he'd send England to a major tournament final.

Never give up on your dreams!

Stat of the day 📊

A word for Gareth Southgate here.

Widely criticised for an overly-cautious approach, the England boss has been defying all of the talk surrounding his team and has got them to a final. Again.

The football may not have been pretty, thrilling, or maybe not even showing the players' full potential, but England are in a final again.

He finds a way to win.

What this means 🤔

England will now face Spain in Sunday's final.

What they said 🗣️

Ollie Watkins revealed a pact between himself and Cole Palmer as they were both about to come on as substitutes. "I've been waiting for that moment for weeks," the striker told reporters afterwards. "It's taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am today. I'm delighted. I swear I told Cole Palmer we would come on & he would set me up. When I saw it go into the bottom corner, it was the best feeling ever."

Jude Bellingham spoke about playing back at Borussia Dortmund: "To be back here, at this club that helped turn me into the man and player I am, it's really nice and special to me. We found a way. Ollie came on today and did that and I'm really grateful as I'm not sure I had another half an hour in me!"

After a tough loss, Ronald Koeman opened up about his thoughts on the game. "Started really good for us. After that we had difficulties in midfield to stop Bellingham & Foden. We didn't control it. We made changes & in the last 20 mins we were the better team. A great goal, then it's over. That's difficult to accept."

What comes next? ⏭️

The big one! EURO 2024 reaches its climax with the final on Sunday between Spain and England.