Euro 2020: England dreaming again after 55 years of hurt

For the first time since 1966, England will engage in a duel for a major honour. Can 55 years of hurt be about to end?

England are in a final - a final! - and these are the strangest, rarest, and most beautiful of words to write, read or even imagine. For the first time since July 30 1966, England will engage in a duel for a major honour. A final! Can 55 years of hurt really be about to end? England finally - finally - learned to be streetwise and if their winning of an extra-time penalty through Raheem Sterling’s maximising of Joakim Maehle’s minimal contact was hugely controversial, the victory was not. England were the better side.

“So good, so good, so good” chorused the England players, standing in front of their clamourous fans, sharing a rousing rendition of Sweet Caroline. Of course they will need to be so good on Sunday at Wembley in the final - a final! - against the redoubtable Italians.

England face a team with so much defensive resilience embodied by Giorgio Chiellini, and so much nous encapsulated by Jorginho. England know they are in for the toughest of tests, tactically and physically, yet they knew that against Germany and passed. Gareth Southgate’s men knew that against the magnificent Kasper Schmeichel and Denmark here, and progressed to the final through resilience and a commitment to attack.

They fought back from Mikkel Damsgaard’s wonderful free-kick. They showed character, pressurising Denmark to force Simon Kjaer’s own goal. They kept attacking, entertaining as the Danes simply sought to mount a rearguard action. Denmark have played with pride and class in this tournament, showing their substance as men and footballers in the wake of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest. They played for Eriksen, fortunately now recovering. They played for their families and their country. Denmark gave everything, especially Schmeichel who did not deserve to finish on the losing side. He made some exceptional saves.

But England deserved this. Harry Maguire deserved to reach the final for his clearances, his aerial strength and his willingness to drive accurate passes into midfield. Maguire was pure defiance, setting the tone, and also dignified in victory, going over to console Kjaer, who lay exhausted on the floor. Maguire then strode towards the fans, singing “Three Lions”, punching the badge on his chest as Declan Rice leapt on his back. Nobody could stop Maguire. He continued towards the fans, Rice riding high.

England football fans celebrate in the streets around Piccadilly and Leicester Square after England beat Denmark. Picture: Getty Images.

Sterling deserved to reach the final because he was utterly tireless, constantly running at Denmark, first down the left, then down the right. Non-stop. He was determined to get England into the final. A final! Sterling forced England’s equaliser, pressurising Kjaer. He won the penalty in extra time, demonstrating that England have acquired some streetwise tendencies when tumbling under Maehle’s challenge. The refereeing has been so good in these Euros but not here. Danny Makkelie pointed to the spot, and the VAR Pol Van Boekel somehow saw nothing wrong. Clear and obvious? Yes. Van Boekel decided no. Put him down with Tofiq Bahramov as the most popular officials in England’s history.

Schmeichel saved, demonstrating all his anticipation and athleticism, but Kane was quickest to the rebound. Denmark were furious but have only themselves to blame. They were too defensive after half-time and, even with six injections of new energy from the bench, still looked tired. England deserved to secure a day of destiny against the Italians.

Kane deserved this for his ceaseless leading of the line, for his quick reactions to ram in his 38th goal for his country, even embarking on one superb dribble down the right in the second half of extra time. He led by example, taking the tackles, showing for the ball, linking, occasionally threatening.

Kalvin Phillips deserved to reach the final because of his unstinting hard work until removed. At the final whistle, he collected a shirt from family in the crowd, put it on and it had GRANNY VAL on the back. His beloved grandmother, “the absolute Queen of our hearts”, passed away in February, and Phillips paid an emotional tribute to her here.

Harry Kane celebrates victory after his extra-time goal. Picture: Getty Images.

All around Phillips, players were going over to the fans, who had never stopped singing, just as they had never stopped believing down the years, even when the team were disappearing down dead ends. Luke Shaw, who was again exceptional, threw his shirt into the crowd. So did Mason Mount. As in Rome, following the quarter-final defeat of Ukraine, an FA official had to rush off and gather up some training tops so the players could go in front of the cameras. Mount was first too busy, as he danced with his great friend, Rice, singing along to Sweet Caroline. Nearby Tyrone Mings and Conor Coady lifted Bukayo Saka, who had given another exhibition of his technique at speed before being surprisingly withdrawn.

And walking quietly in the background, congratulating his players and staff, was the unexpected revolutionary, Southgate. He deserved the chance to pit his wits against Roberto Mancini in the final. Wembley was the scene of his greatest nightmare, that missed penalty at Euro 96, and now nirvana, a shot at glory. Southgate is already England’s greatest manager since Sir Alf Ramsey.

England have this strong mindset, meeting challenges calmly but determinedly, because they are shaped in the mould of their manager. Southgate is the architect of this confident but not arrogant new England. He’s nurtured the spirit, ended the club cliques, removed the tension between squad and supporters. Whatever happens against Chiellini and company, Southgate has restored England’s pride. He’s brought hope home. Maybe the FA was not so precipitous in floating the idea of a contract extension for Southgate to 2024.

Whatever happens on Sunday, there will always be the memory of this match. The new Wembley has never experienced such an atmosphere. At 19:23, Wembley shook to the first rendition of Football’s Coming Home. One fan hedged his bets with a flag reading “Football’s Coming Home Soon”. At 19:40, England fans sang loudly about Southgate being the one. He soon emerged from view, smartly dressed, looking ready for business. Wembley was only two thirds full but it felt rammed to the arch. The noise was deafening.

Most fans stood, row upon row of hope and defiance, their flags fluttering in front of them showing support from Leicester City, Portsmouth, Crystal Palace, Carlisle United, Chester and all over. It felt like the whole country had mobilised behind Southgate and his team. Certainly the nation had stopped and looked on, daring to dream. Sterling posted a montage of the England squad marching up Wembley Way surrounded by supporters with the words “together as one”.

Andreas Christensen and Thomas Delaney of Denmark console teammate Joakim Maehle who is in tears following their team's defeat. Picture: Getty Images.

At 19:52, the tens of thousands stormed through “Sweet Caroline”. Some wore Gazza shirts, others sported Maguire masks, a few were dressed as Crusaders. At 19:55 the players emerged, the England 11 waving to their families. And then it began, the first blast of Makkelie launching hostilities, and England did not hold back in a high-octane start.

At 20:01, Phillips bowled over Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. At 20:03, Shaw clattered Jens Stryger Larsen. But Denmark refused to be bullied. Jordan Pickford had passed Gordon Banks’ England record of 720 minutes without conceding when Shaw fouled Andreas Christensen 25 yards out on the half-hour. Damsgaard eyed up England’s wall of Rice, John Stones, Maguire and Kane, took a few steps back and then ran in. The 21-year-old does not look physically capable of imparting such power but he did, generating the force through his technique, the ball rising then dipping and flying past Pickford.

England responded, equalising within nine minutes. Kane teased the ball behind Denmark’s back-three, Saka drove the ball across, and it went in off the sliding Kjaer past Schmeichel. When Schmeichel was beaten again, England were in dreamland. In a final.

England’s pressure finally paid off in controversial circumstances when Sterling was awarded a soft penalty for a challenge by Joakim Maehle in the 104th minute.

Schmeichel even denied Kane from the spot but the ball fell kindly for the England captain to sweep home his fourth goal of the tournament.

Southgate was the fall guy when England last made it to a Euro semi-final 25 years ago as he missed the decisive penalty in a shoot-out defeat to Germany.

But he has the ultimate shot at redemption come Sunday as England have the chance to finally bring a major trophy home after so many years of hurt.

The Times