Perhaps it is all written in the stars. Against all odds, they have been defying ordinary happenstances with a stroke of goodluck turning up for them.
May be, just may be, the gods of football have decided to make the nation that last smiled in 1966 after winning the world to smile again.
A last gasp sensational goal from substitute Ollie Watkins secured victory for England in dramatic fashion minutes after Bukayo Saka had an effort ruled offside.
The Three Lions have dramatically reached the final of the Euros for the second time in a row after beating the Netherlands 2 – 1 in Dortmund.
England will now face Spain in Sunday’s final in Berlin after their best performance of the tournament so far.
Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate will receive much of the praise after the winning goal was created and scored by two substitutes he brought on with around 10 minutes left to play.
Cole Palmer, who replaced Man City star Phil Foden, picked up the ball in midfield before slotting it to Watkins on the edge of the area.
Watkins took a touch before firing the ball into the bottom left corner of the Dutch goal.
The Aston Villa striker quickly silenced any critics who may have had their doubts when he replaced captain Harry Kane as the game looked set to be going into extra time.
Asked about his decision to take off Kane at such a crucial moment, Southgate told a news conference after the match: “Harry took quite a big knock when he won the penalty so we weren’t sure how long he would be able to play on for.
“Him and Phil Foden were playing well, but we were losing a little bit of energy… Certainly we weren’t taking Phil off because of his performance, but we have got good players on the bench with freshness we felt could help us.
The England men’s team have never won the Euros and success on Sunday night would see them lift their first trophy since the World Cup in 1966.
The game had started badly for England after Declan Rice was dispossessed in midfield before a wonder strike from Xavi Simons from outside the area put the Dutch 1 – 0 up after just seven minutes.
England responded brightly, but many will feel they were fortunate to be awarded a penalty following a challenge from Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries on Kane.
The England captain, who had been criticised for his performances in the tournament so far, struck the ball into the bottom left corner to level the score after 18 minutes.
Tough fixture ahead
England will now play an impressive Spain side in Sunday’s final in the German capital.
Spain have won every one of their games in the tournament so far – knocking out European giants France, Italy and Germany.
All eyes will be on 16-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal in the tournament’s closing fixture – with the teenager scoring a sensational goal to help his side overcome France in Tuesday’s semi-final.
It was Yamal’s finest moment in a tournament where his ability to take on players and create chances had already seen him emerge as a breakout star.
England, however, on the other hand, will be banking on 18 year old Kobe Mainoo to stop Lamine Yamal in the midfield.
On paper, Spain are the favourite to win the final but with the gods of eauropean football taking sides, you never can tell the outcome of Sunday’s encounter.
“We have good players.”
Gareth Southgate
England Manager
