England crushed Ukraine (4-0) in the quarter-finals of the Euro on Saturday night in Rome, including a double from their star striker Harry Kane.
The English will face Denmark in the semi-finals at home at Wembley.
It was the most lopsided quarter-final on paper, and it actually was.
England largely beat Ukraine (4-0), Saturday night in Rome, to qualify for the semi-finals of the Euro.
The English, sure of their strength, scored three goals in 20 minutes after returning from the locker room to qualify for the second time in a row in the last four of a major international competition, after the 2018 World Cup. The Three Lions were able to count on Harry Kane, author of a double, and on a great Raheem Sterling, who made immense differences on the sides.
The English will face Denmark for an oh-so-enticing semi-final on Wednesday night at 9 p.m. at Wembley.
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The meeting: the English find Wembley and the last four
There was indeed a class of difference between England and Ukraine.
If the Ukrainians were almost equal in the first period, they completely exploded when they returned from the locker room.
The case was folded in 20 minutes, on three heads: first one from Manchester United central defender Harry Maguire (46th) on a free kick shot by his club partner Luke Shaw, another from Harry Kane on the second Evening assist from Shaw (50th) then one last, again from a corner, from Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, who came into play a few minutes earlier (63rd).
With this easy victory, England returned to the semi-finals of the Euro for the first since 1996, when the competition was held at home.
She will also find her "temple" of Wembley, where the semi-finals and the final of this edition take place, and her fiery supporters.
The Three Lions, who will be pushed by a whole people, therefore have a great opportunity to win the first Euro in their history.
The players: Kane and Sterling, decisive duo
If the English want to follow their dream, they will again have to rely on their duo Harry Kane-Raheem Sterling. The Tottenham striker and Manchester City winger were grandiose on Saturday night, confirming their status as stars of this English selection. Harry Kane, transparent in the first round, confirmed his awakening by scoring a brace, for three goals in two matches after the one scored in the eighth against Germany. "Hurrykane", his nickname, opened the scoring in the 4th minute by victoriously tackling an offering from Raheem Sterling, then he placed a powerful header on a perfect cross from Luke Shaw at the start of the second period (50th). Very leggy, the English captain could even have scored a hat-trick without a magnificent save from the Ukrainian goalkeeper Bushchan on a volley in the 62nd minute.
[️VIDEO - ⚽️GOAL] # EURO2020
Harry Kane already opens the scoring for England!
And what pass from Sterling #UKRENGhttps: //t.co/8FB6XGAxJ2
- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) July 3, 2021
[️VIDEO - ⚽️GOAL] # EURO2020
The double for Harry Kane ➡️ And that's 3⃣-0⃣
✨ A perfect head shot #UKRENGhttps: //t.co/zQjJ2rwMWw
- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) July 3, 2021
As for Raheem Sterling, in addition to his superb assist on the first goal, he is also involved in Kane's second goal, shifting Luke Shaw perfectly into the box.
The City winger, the best Englishman since the start of the tournament, has also been a constant poison to the Ukrainian defense with his speed and dribbling.
The Danish defense is warned.
The logical conclusion: Ukraine was less strong
Ukraine therefore leaves the Euro on a correction. But the Ukrainians do not have much to regret, so much they were inferior to the English, who still have not conceded a single goal in the competition (yes yes!). The men of coach Andriy Shevchenko, the 2003 Ballon d'Or with AC Milan, still succeeded in their mission, them that nobody expected at this stage of the competition. For England, it will be a whole different task against Denmark, who impressed again on Saturday against the Czech Republic. The English have in any case a revenge to take: 25 years ago, they were eliminated in the semi-finals of their Euro 1996 on penalties, by Germany. As a symbol, the match was played at Wembley.