England sets up date with destiny (and Spain) at Euro 2024

Football is (almost) coming home.

England is into the Final at Euro 2024 after coming from a goal down to beat Netherlands 2-1 in the Semi Final in Dortmund, Germany.

The Three Lions, who lost the Euro 2020 Final on penalties to Italy in London, will now seek redemption in the tournament decider against Spain on foreign soil.

After conceding to Xavi Simons in the seventh minute, England equalised when captain Harry Kane converted from the spot after a fortuitous penalty on 18 minutes.

As Kane attempted to volley the ball home, he was caught by Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries. VAR then intervened, prompting referee Felix Zwayer to point to the spot.

“I think it's an absolute disgrace. It's an absolutely disgraceful decision,” said former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville on ITV.

“To have that given against me as a penalty at any time, but in a game of such importance. He goes in naturally just to try and block the shot.

“It's not a penalty, it's nowhere near a penalty and I have to say I don't think there were many England players claiming for it either.

“It's never a penalty but you take your luck.”

Nevertheless it was paid and Kane duly converted.

The contest ebbed and flowed throughout the second half before some clever intervention from manager Gareth Southgate eventually decided the match.

Southgate introduced Ollie Watkins for Kane and Cole Palmer for Phil Foden and it proved a masterstroke with the two substitutes combining for the 91st minute winner.

Aston Villa’s Watkins conjured a remarkable finish across Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen on a tight angle which sent the England fans at the BVB Stadion into delirium.

Watkins had a pre-game premonition that he and Palmer would combine for a goal.

“I swear on my kids’ life, I told Cole Palmer earlier today, we’d be coming on and he’d set me up and I’d score,” he said on ITV.

“And it happened.”

Three-time European champion Spain now awaits in Berlin on Monday morning of July 15 (5am AEST).

They Spaniards won their way through after also coming from a goal down to defeat France 2-1.

Spain last won the Euros in 2012 two years after claiming their 2010 World Cup. England has not won a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup.