Ollie Watkins emerged as the unlikely hero for England as his 91st-minute goal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Netherlands and a place in the European Championship final. The Aston Villa striker, who had only been on the pitch for 10 minutes, netted a sensational cross-goal finish to beat the Dutch goalkeeper and send the Three Lions through to their second consecutive European Championship final. The victory marks a historic moment for England, as they have never before reached the final of a tournament on foreign soil. Manager Gareth Southgate also becomes the first England manager to lead the men's side into two major tournament finals.
England's Historic Triumph: Ollie Watkins Secures Euro 2020 Final Berth
Background: England and the Netherlands have a storied history in football, with the two nations meeting countless times on the international stage. The most recent clash between the two sides came in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals in June 2019, where the Netherlands prevailed 3-1.
Match Summary: The highly anticipated match at Estádio Alfredo da Silva in Guimarães, Portugal, did not disappoint. England struck first through Luke Shaw's superb strike in the 10th minute. However, the Dutch fought back, with Matthijs de Ligt equalizing in the 21st minute.
As the match neared its conclusion, it seemed as though the Netherlands would be the ones to advance. However, England refused to give up. In the 91st minute, Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who had come on as a substitute just 10 minutes earlier, produced a moment of magic. He latched onto a cross from Kieran Trippier and fired a sensational finish into the top corner, securing a dramatic 2-1 victory for the Three Lions.
Significance: England's victory holds immense historical significance. It marks the first time that the Three Lions have reached the final of a major tournament on foreign soil. It also makes Gareth Southgate the first England manager to lead the men's side into two major tournament finals.
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