England manager Gareth Southgate savours the moment after his team secured a comeback victory against the Netherlands to reach Euro 2024 final, a mammoth date against Lamine Yamal’s Spain.
Southgate, however, is quick to admit the quality of the Ronald Koeman’s team as he reacts to England’s historic back-to-back Euro grand finals reached.
The Three Lions lost Euro 2020 final on home soil to Italy and will have another chance to lift the coveted trophy when they do battle in Berlin against arguably the best team of Euro 2024: Spain.
“We knew the Netherlands had more quality, so they can punish you, like they did. But maybe a bit more opportunity to play and I thought our midfield players, Phil Foden especially, just kept finding space, kept getting on the ball and had a lot of freedom to play.”, Gareth Southgate told BBC Radio 5 Live.
The manager continued:
“They had to keep changing what they were doing, which meant we had to keep changing what we were doing. It was a very complicated game, particularly defensively.”
“This is what we came here to do and we’ve been building for two years towards this. You have to enjoy nights like this but equally it’s such a quick turn around and we’ve got a day less than the team who have been the best in the tournament so far.
“It’s going to be a very, very tough game. But you wouldn’t expect to get to a final and it not be. It’s fabulous for everyone at home to look forward to.”
Xavi Simons put the Dutch ahead with a sensational strike in the 7th minute, Harry Kane equalized with a penalty in the 18th before substitute Ollie Watkins won it for England with a brilliant stoppage time effort.
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