The stage is set for a thrilling Euro 2024 semifinal clash between England, the runner-up from the last edition, and the Netherlands, champions of Euro 1988. The match, scheduled for Wednesday, July 11, at 12:30 AM IST at the BVB Stadion Dortmund, promises to be a nail-biting encounter.
Right from the outset, the match saw a flurry of action. In the seventh minute, Xavi Simons unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, leaving Jordan Pickford with no chance as the ball sailed into the net. This early goal marked the fastest scored in a Euro semifinal since Alan Shearer’s goal for England against Germany in 1996 (3rd minute).
However, England fought back, and in the 14th minute, Harry Kane found himself inside the Dutch penalty box. A tussle with Denzel Dumfries resulted in Kane going down, clutching his feet. The German referee, Felix Zwayer, paused the game while the VAR team reviewed the incident. After consulting the video footage, Zwayer awarded England a penalty. Stepping up to take the penalty, Kane sent the ball into the bottom corner, equalizing the score. This goal marked a significant milestone for Kane, making him the player with the most goals (6) in the history of European Championship knockouts. Furthermore, he also surpassed Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose, Antoine Griezmann, and Kylian Mbappe (all 8) to become the European player with the most knockout stage goals (9) in major tournaments (World Cup/Euros).
Adding another layer of intrigue to the match, 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo made history as the youngest England player to feature in a semifinal match of a major international tournament.
The match is poised to be a thrilling battle between two formidable teams, with the winner securing a place in the Euro 2024 final.
