England qualified for the final match of the European Football Championship (Euro 2020) for the first time in its history, where it will face its Italian counterpart, after England beat Denmark 2-1 in the semi-final match that was held on Wednesday evening at Wembley Stadium in the capital, London.
The match extended for two more periods, after its original time ended in a 1-1 draw, as Mikel Damsgaard advanced to Denmark in the 30th minute, with a direct free kick that he shot wonderfully, and it hit the upper right corner of the goalkeeper Jordan Pickford's goal.
⚽️🥅 Mikel Damsgaard's shot penetrates the English net.. a very beautiful and beautiful goal ‼️
#England_Denmark |
#Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/geZ9IdihRl
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 7, 2021
And after only 9 minutes, friendly fire gave England the equalizer, when Denmark captain Simon Kjaer converted the cross from Bukayo Saka to an own goal by mistake, as he tried to save it in front of Raheem Sterling.
🤦 ♂️ Simon Kayer scores the 1 ⃣ 1 ⃣ reverse goal at Euro 2020
💬 Did this goal revive England's hopes of qualifying for the final? #England_Denmark |
#Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/ibgziu9mav
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 7, 2021
Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel excelled in defending his goal, and he saved several dangerous attacks, most notably a powerful header by Harry Maguire, the England star.
🇩🇰🧤
This cub is from that lion!!!!
🦁#England_Denmark |
#Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/IVvSMyt0ga
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) July 7, 2021
Despite the danger of the Three Lions team, the two teams failed to resolve the result in the original time, so the match extended two additional games.
The English pressure continued until the referee awarded a penalty kick in favor of Raheem Sterling, which captain Harry Kane saved and shot to the left of Schmeichel, who saved it, but it bounced from his hand to reach Kane again, scoring the goal in the first overtime period (104), amid celebrations from the fans The English, thirsty for international tournaments, have been absent from their national team since their only major title, the World Cup in 1966.
It is noteworthy that England did not win or even qualify for the final match of the European Championship in its history, and third place was its best achievement in the 1968 edition, while it lost in the semi-finals of the tournament in 1996.
On the other hand, Denmark won the only time they qualified for the final match in Euro 1992.