England booked their place in a European Championship final for the first time ever when they reached the Euro 2020 show event with a 2-1 victory against Denmark in extra time on Wednesday night.
After a great start from England, the Danes dropped a suction when Mikkel Damsgaard fired a cruel free kick past Jordan Pickford to give his side the lead.
The Three Lions struck back immediately when Bukayo Saka returned Gareth Southgate’s faith by breaking down the right before pulling back the ball where Simon Kjaer put through his own net under pressure from Raheem Sterling.
England came within inches of taking the lead when Harry Maguire’s nod was somehow palmed off by the brilliant Kasper Schmeichel before Harry Kane was denied a penalty for a challenge that could easily have been considered a foul.
With the goals locked to 1-1, the match went into extra time and Schmeichel was immediately called to action again as he denied Kane with an excellent save down to the right.
Schmeichel saves from the place … BUT CAN SLAMS HOME ABOUT THE AWARD! ???????????????????? # ONE lead in extra time !!! ? # ENGDEN | #ITVFotboll | # Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/kZdBM3deRe
– ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2021
Southgate’s side had a brilliant opportunity to take the lead when Sterling drove past Joakim Maehle who came forward to concede a penalty, and despite Schmeichel’s heroism to deny Kane from the spot, the Englishman followed in to knock the ball home.
Denmark offered a bit in the way of an answer when England hung on to secure their place in the final of Euro 2020. Now does not sound good? Here are your players’ ratings from the clash …
Jordan Pickford hit by a free kick from the first half / Paul Ellis – Pool / Getty Images
Jordan Pickford (GK) – 5/10 – Undoubtedly made his first mistake in the tournament because he unnecessarily gave away the possession early and was lucky to escape unpunished, but his second mistake soon followed because he should have done better with Damsgaard’s free kick.
Kyle Walker (RB) – 7/10 – Used his pace excellently to help sweep behind the back line when England looked to have been busy. Used all his noise to handle the game in the second half.
John Stones (CB) – 6/10 – Looked a little nervous at times but kept to his task and fought well with Kasper Dolberg and Yussuf Poulsen.
Harry Maguire (CB) – 8/10 – Started the game on the front foot and was not afraid to move forward to help open the game. Came within a few inches of making it 2-1 to England but was denied by an incredible save from Schmeichel. Defended very well throughout the game.
Luke Shaw (LB) – 7/10 – Continued his wonderful connecting game with Sterling down in England on the left and saw a constant threat of overlap.
Mason Mount retained his place in midfield / Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
Declan Rice (CM) – 5/10 – Too passive and could not handle the pressure he put on the Danish midfield. Got up the pace a bit more during the second half but not his finest outing at all.
Calvin Phillips (CM) – 4/10 – Looked wasteful in possession early and gave the ball away on a number of occasions. Too busy trying to pass backwards and sideways rather than actually going forward.
Mason Mount (AM) – 5/10 – Fought well and did a lot of work for the good of the team but he could not produce the kind of effort on the ball that we have become accustomed to seeing.
Raheem Sterling moves away from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg / Andy Rain – Pool / Getty Images
Bukayo Saka (RW) – 7/10 – Fantastic little game down to the right to help England take the equalizer. Withdrew in the second half after he seemed to run out of steam a bit but still good performance.
Harry Kane (ST) – 8/10 – Dropped in small space pockets when we have become accustomed to seeing him do and showed great technical ability to pick out England’s wide men. Came up trump with a late goal when his country needed him most.
Raheem Sterling (LW) – 7/10 – Missed a couple of good chances early but did brilliantly to press Kjær for the own goal. Saw a threat every time he got the ball even though some of his touches were a bit gone. Instrumental in the winning goal when he won his side penalty.
Let’s go, @JackGrealish! ?
Well played, @ BukayoSaka87? pic.twitter.com/4vCaWcyun3
– England (@England) 7 July 2021
Jack Grealish (LW) – 7/10
Jordan Henderson (CM) – 6/10
Phil Foden (AM) – 6/10
Kieran Trippier (RB) – 6/10
Kasper Schmeichel started in goal / Laurence Griffiths / Getty Images
Kasper Schmeichel (GK) – 9/10 – Produced an instinctive stop to rush to Sterling’s feet and prevent him from leveling but nothing he could do with Kjær’s own goal. Pulled out another fantastic save in the second half to deny Maguire and was incredible all night,
Andreas Christensen (CB) – 5/10 – Bamboozled by Sterling sometimes down to the right in Denmark and let him infield far too often. Eventually came out with what looked like cramps but could very well have been an excuse to get away from Sterling.
Simon Kjaer (CB) – 7/10 – Made brilliant to go into midfield on a couple of occasions to catch England’s long balls up to the front line. Very little he could do when he scored to pull England level.
Jannik Vestergaard (CB) – 6/10 – Sprayed some lovely balls with his cultured right foot but sometimes struggled with England’s front line. Stood very late as England continued to push forward.
Thomas Delaney was solid in midfield / Justin Tallis – Pool / Getty Images
Jens Stryger Larsen (RWB) – 6/10 – Struggled to get there too early and seemed busy stopping Luke Shaw’s forward. Recalled in the second half.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (CM) – 7/10 – Pressed both Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice and was better with the midfield throughout the match.
Thomas Delaney (CM) – 7/10 – Went with Hojbjerg to drive forward and push England midfield backwards. Apparently the last minutes of normal time were gassed and withdrawn for Mathias Jensen.
Joakim Maehle (LWB) – 7/10 – Very good show down to Denmark. Embedded when England was on the ball and led away a number of late England crossings. Lyrics of himself by admitting the late penalty to give Southgate’s men the win – even if it looked a little tough.
Mikkel Damsgaard opened the scoring with a fantastic strike / Catherine Ivill / Getty Images
Martin Braithwaite (RW) – 6/10 – Chased many lost things and did not stop pressing Maguire but could not really get a foot on the ball to try to make things happen.
Kasper Dolberg (ST) – 7/10 – Fought brilliantly and was not afraid to put his body at stake for the team’s best. Linked well to his teammates and had to stop a couple of efforts by Pickford.
Mikkel Damsgaard (LW) – 8/10 – The brightest player on the field during the initial half hour. England’s defense could not come close to him as he jumped away from his challenges and he opened the scoring with the absolute beauty of a free kick.
Denmark calls for change / Paul Ellis – Pool / Getty Images
Daniel Wass (RWB) – 7/10
Yussuf Poulsen (ST) – 5/10
Christian Norgaard (CM) – 6/10
Joachim Andersen (CB) – 7/10
Mathias Jensen (CM) – 6/10
Jonas Wind (ST) – 6/10
