The blue dream continues, Italy in the final at the European Championships
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07 July 2021It will be England to challenge Italy in the Euro2020 final scheduled for Sunday in London. In fact, in the semifinals the hosts beat Denmark 2-1 in extra time and won the first final of a European in its history. Applause also to the Danes, protagonists of a truly top level championship.
The English coach Southgate recovers Saka and plays him from 1 '. Forward Kane offensive terminal with Mount and Sterling behind him. Hjulmand relies on Dolberg and Damsgaard's talent. England with 4-2-3-1: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Rice, Phillips; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane. Denmark replies with 3-4-3: Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjaer, Vestergaard; Stryger Larsen, Hojbjerg, Delaney, Maehle; Braithwaite, Dolberg, Damsgaard.
I start at a thousand per hour with England trying to make the game and Denmark that when they manage to develop their game in speed puts the chills. Immediately an assist from Kane for Sterling who, however, does not get there by little (6 '). Sterling tries, Schmeichel blocks without problems (13 '). At 15 'Kane does everything alone with a shot from over 20 meters, very high ball. Double Danish attempt in the 16 ', but first Hojbjerg and then Braithwaite miss the goal. Great play by Damsgaard in the 25th minute who, at the end of a prolonged action, tries to mock Pickford with a right-footed turn that ends up a little high. But it is the prelude to the Danish advantage. At 30 'in fact with a great free-kick from over 25 meters, Damsgaard shoves Pickford with a very poisonous parable, 1-0 Denmark and the first goal conceded by England in this European championship.English close to equal in the 38th minute but Sterling, on an assist from Kane, 'hits' Schmeichel in full. One minute and the equal England arrives: good action on the right from Kane to Saka who puts in the middle, Kjaer in an attempt to anticipate Sterling's safe tap-in, slips into his goal, it is 1-1 (39 ').
In the second half the pace is still high. Maguire tries to head on a free-kick from Mount, Schmeichel is attentive and deflects (55 '). The Danish response on Dolberg's feet blocks Pickford (59 '). The British try to increase the revs. Triple change between the Danes: inside Wass, Poulsen and Norgaard, outside Stryger Larsen, Damsgaard and Dolberg (67 '). Among the British there is the expected Grealish for Saka (68 '). Thrills for Denmark on a cross from Mount, but Schmeichel smanaccia for the corner (73 '). Phillips tries from a distance, very strong shot, but ball wide (79 '). Danish coach Hjulmand completed the changes by inserting first Andersen (for Christensen in the 79th minute) and then Jensen (for Delaney in the 88th minute). England attack with their heads down, but do not pass and we go to extra time.
Immediately a great intervention by Schmeichel who dives a diagonal of the wild Kane (94 '). England double change in the 95th minute with Henderson and Foden for Rice and Mount. It is a siege of the British who try, with no luck, with Maguire, Grealish and Sterling. At 102 'the Dutch referee Mekkelie conceded a penalty for a foul in the area on Sterling. From the spot goes Kane who gets the shot rejected by Schmeichel, but on the counter the Tottenham striker is the fastest of all and deposits on the net, England back in the lead (104 '). In Denmark Vestergaard comes out for Wind (105 '). At the start of the 2nd overtime, Southgate replaced Grealish, who had entered in the 69th minute, for Trippier in the 106th minute. Denmark, with little energy left, threw themselves forward in search of the new equal.But England controls close to the trio and gives itself the first European final in its long history.