England 2-1 Denmark
But only could one continue to dream, only one could succeed, only one could spark wild scenes.
That nation is England. Gareth Southgate’s England.
They are through to the final of Euro 2020 and, while the decisive moment was fortunate – very fortunate in fact – few could argue the Three Lions did not deserve their victory over 120 minutes.
Extra-time was 12 minutes old when Joakim Maehle was adjudged – wrongly as it turned out – to have fouled Raheem Sterling in the penalty area.
Up stepped Harry Kane and, while the Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel parried his spot-kick, he was helpless as the alert England captain reacted to fire home the rebound.
In that moment, ‘an opportunity to make the country happy’, which was how England boss Southgate described this encounter on the eve of the game, had become a reality.
The belief surging through the country, on and off the pitch, since seeing off arch rivals Germany was clear.
Now expect it to reach a whole new level. England are in the final of a major tournament for the first time since 1966.
Highlights of the game
There was just one change for England with Arsenal’s exciting teenage winger Bukayo Saka handed a starting berth, while Denmark were unchanged from the side that began their quarter-final victory over the Czech Republic.
During a lively and energetic England start, Sterling was within a whisker of connecting with a Kane cross, but at the other end young Mikkel Damsgaard showed a glimpse of his potential when he curled the ball narrowly wide of the post.
Just before the half-hour came a moment of genuine quality when Denmark were awarded a free kick and Damsgaard whipped the ball over the defensive wall which dipped into the top corner beyond Jordan Pickford.
It was the first goal England had conceded in the tournament and the first free-kick goal of Euro 2020.
Initially, England were rocked but, after Schmeichel superbly palmed out a close-range Sterling shot, the Three Lions restored parity six minutes before the break.
It was Kane whose slide-run pass picked out Saka and his low cross was diverted into his own net by the under-pressure Danish skipper Simon Kjaer.
If that was expected to be the cue for an England assault in the second period it didn’t materialise.
In fact, Denmark surprised me and, despite being without their only true world class talent in Christian Eriksen, were a much better outfit and cohesive unit than I had given them credit for.
Damsgaard again showed his worth with a snap-shot pushed away by Pickford before the ever-impressive Schmeichel dived at full stretch to claw out a towering header from Harry Maguire.
The Leicester shot-stopper also had to be super alert to tip away a looping Mason Mount cross.
Into extra-time and Schmeichel again denied Kane at full-stretch as England pressed and pressed against a nation whose boss Kasper Hjulmand had admitted pre-match that fatigue was a concern.
After 102 minutes of Euro 2020 highlights, then came the key moment and the wild scenes that followed told their own story.
In fact, but for the superb Schmeichel to deny the equally superb Sterling, it could have been more but it was hard not to feel some sympathy for Denmark.
In 1992 there were incredible scenes at this tournament for the Danes, certainly the most memorable European Championship triumph in my lifetime.
Now, could England be set for their own defining moment?
Key Statistics
Kane is now England’s joint-highest goalscorer in major tournaments, moving level with Gary Lineker on 10 goals.
Until being beaten in the 29th minute, Pickford set a new record for an England goalkeeper for the most minutes without conceding, overtaking World Cup winner Gordon Banks’ 720 minutes set from May to July 1966.
Damsgaard has been involved in eight goals in seven starts for Denmark (four goals, four assists).
Kjaer’s own goal was the 11th of the tournament. That is two more own goals than every single other European Championship combined.
England have never lost in the finals of a major tournament at Wembley (won 11, drawn four), with the Euro 1996 semi-final against Germany classed as a draw.
Until tonight, they had played more games at the European Championship finals without ever reaching the final than any other nation (37).
What’s next?
A date with destiny awaits. It’s Italy v England in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley on Sunday night (July 11). Go to the SBOTOP Euro 2020 betting odds now and get ready for what should be a special showdown.
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