How England snatched victory from Denmark


Faces Italy in final

By Oluwatimilehin Ayomikun

AFTER 50 years of not being able to reach final of major competitions, England football team, popularly called 'Three Lions' has now broken the jix, and reached final of Euro 2020.

The Three Lions on Wednesday took another step towards their first title since the 1966 World Cup, defeated Denmark, 2-1, in extra time at Wembley Stadium to advance to the European Championship final.

On Sunday, they will return to Wembley stadium to face Italy, which advanced on Tuesday with a penalty-kick triumph over Spain.

Harry Kane's 104th-minute goal sent Wembley into a frenzy in extra time to reach the final.

England will play in its first ever Euro final and first final of a major tournament since winning the 1966 World Cup. 

The Danes got on the board first with one of the prettiest goals of the tournament. From about 25 yards out, Mikkel Damsgaard curled a beautiful effort over the England wall and past an outstretched Jordan Pickford. It was the first goal of Euro 2020 scored on a direct free kick and the first conceded by England, ending a 691-minute clean-sheet streak.

England got their equalising goal when Kane found Bukayo Saka streaking down the right side. Spotting Sterling making a run, Saka's low cross was turned into his own net by Denmark captain Simon Kjær before Sterling could tap in and England were level at 1-1. It was the 11th own goal of Euro 2020.

England’s Raheem Sterling tumbled in the box after light contact, and following Makkelie’s ruling, video review upheld the call.

Kane stepped forward to take the penalty, and his low drive shot was stopped by a diving Schmeichel, but Kane was fast to pounce on the rebound and beat the Danish goalkeeper for the goal that put England in the final.

England has not witnessed its national team in a major final since it won the World Cup at home 55 years ago — an eternity for a country that invented the modern game in the 19th century and boasts the sport’s most popular club circuit, the most glamorous Premier League.

It will mark England’s first appearance in the Euro final in 10 attempts. (It lost in the semifinals twice.)

England’s trip to Euro 2020 final means dreams of football finally coming home could be reality.

Although, the outcome ended an emotional ride for Denmark, a decided tournament underdog that, in its group opener last month in Copenhagen, watched in horror as star midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the field. His life was saved by teammates and medics.

The Danes lost their first two matches before winning three straight and getting within two victories of repeating their 1992 European crown.

The outcome was not without controversy. Although England was the better side in the second half and extra time, following a 1-1 draw through 45 minutes, the deciding goal came after referee Danny Makkelie awarded a questionable penalty kick.

With a free kick from more than 30 yards, 21-year-old Mikkel Damsgaard lifted the ball over England’s wall and beyond the reach of a leaping Jordan Pickford. It was undoubtedly a terrific strike, but Pickford probably should have at least gotten a firm hand on the ball.


The 8,000 red-clad Danish supporters in attendance erupted.

The goal was almost remarkable as the fact it was the first goal off a free kick in the entire tournament.

Kane cracked open the Danish resistance with a through ball to Bukayo Saka penetrating the right side of the penalty area. Saka crossed into the six-yard box. Sterling was unmarked as he stormed the back side.

Danish captain Simon Kjaer intervened with a desperate, sliding effort, inadvertently tucking the ball into the net for an own goal.

Schmeichel prevented further damage early in the second half, making an extraordinary save on Harry Maguire’s header.

After two quality opportunities, England had an answer.

The match looked like England’s to win in regular time, but when pressure grew, the Danes did not crack.

With Denmark sitting back in extra time, England dominated possession and probed for an opening. After a dozen minutes, Sterling drew the controversial penalty, and Kane, after a misstep, put the hosts ahead.

Denmark still had more than 15 minutes to force a penalty-kick shootout, but exhaustion undermined its efforts.

Below are the past winners of the tournament.

YearHost(s)WinnerScoreRunner-up
2021 England             
2016FrancePortugal1–0 aetFrance
2012Poland & UkraineSpain4-0Italy
2008Austria & SwitzerlandSpain1-0Germany
2004PortugalGreece1-0Portugal
2000Belgium & NetherlandsFrance2-1 asdetItaly
1996EnglandGermany2-1 asdetCzech Republic
1992SwedenDenmark2-0Germany
1988West GermanyNetherlands2-0Soviet Union
1984FranceFrance2-0Spain
1980ItalyWest Germany2-1Belgium
1976YugoslaviaCzechoslovakia2-2 aet / (5-3) psWest Germany
1972BelgiumWest Germany3-0Soviet Union
1968ItalyItaly1-1 aet / 2-0 replayYugoslavia
1964SpainSpain2-1Soviet Union
1960FranceSoviet Union2-1 aetYugoslavia
aet = after extra time

asdet =after sudden death extra time
ps = after penalty shootout

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