The Three Lions defeated Denmark 2-1 at Wembley Stadium to bring an end to their 55-year wait for an appearance in a major final. The last time England featured in a final was when they won the World Cup in 1966.
On a nerve-shredding night in Northwest London, Gareth Southgate‘s side were on a mission to travel one step further – in front of 66,000 fans – than any England squad has since the day they beat West Germany.
It was the visitors who took the lead through Mikkel Damsgarrd‘s breathtaking free-kick after 30 minutes, bringing England’s run of clean sheets to an end. Prior to the game the hosts were the only team not to have conceded at Euro 2020. Jordan Pickford, who got fingertips to the strike, had not allowed a goal in 721 minutes for England.
England crucially replied to the goal deficit just nine minutes later, with Denmark captain Simon Kjær turning in Bukayo Saka‘s threatening cross which looked well on it’s way to a Raheem Sterling goal anyway.
Denmark and Leicester City goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, son of Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel, was his country’s hero for the majority of the game (and the competition) making incredible save after save, brilliantly turning away from both Harry Maguire and Harry Kane as the game ticked in to overtime.
The moment the nation of England has been waiting so long for came as the screens showed 103 minutes played, Raheem Sterling was deemed to be fouled in the box by Joakim Mæhle, captain fantastic Harry Kane stepped up to take it, Schmeichel saved it, but he just wasn’t as fast as Kane who scored on the follow up sending an already raucous Wembley crowd in to ecstatic cheers and the sound of Football’s Coming Home reverberated around.
After all the years of hurt, the endless battling to find a team that meshes perfectly and many an emotional night, England have the golden opportunity to finally claim a major crown, when they play their first ever Euros final, against Italy at Wembley on Sunday, July 11th and 8pm local time and 3pm ET.
Final – Sunday, July 11th (3pm ET – ESPN)
England v Italy
Artistry of Sport 
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