Euro 2020: Southgate celebrates ‘special’ night as England end wait to reach a final

Kane's penalty in extra-time seals 2-1 win over Denmark

• 

  Jordan Pickford 6 - Broke the England record for longest period without conceding a goal, then conceded a superb dipping free-kick. Fell to his knees. Could he have done more? Got down to make a save from Dolberg after 51 minutes.

• 

  Kyle Walker 7 - England’s best player in the first half. Picked up his 60th cap and so fast in chasing loose balls and stronger than full-back Maele. Crazy celebration when England equalised.

• 

  John Stones 7 - Competent against Denmark’s shifting attack. Pushed up as England dominated and his own influence grew.

• 

  Harry Maguire 9 - Header after 55 minutes was well saved by Schmeichel. Played well. Fuming at being pulled back by Poulsen after winning another tackle on 85 minutes. Booked.

• 

  Luke Shaw 7 - Superb against Ukraine in Rome, gave the free-kick away which led to the opening goal – and the first goal England conceded in seven games. Timed a run and crossed as England pushed for a second on 58 minutes and became more emboldened.

• 

  Kalvin Phillips 6 - Didn’t win a single duel – and nor did his sidekick Rice – in the first half. Better in second. Shot wide after 79 and then a left footed shot well over on 90 as he got far more involved.

• 

  Declan Rice 6 - Covered for Maguire as the Danes threatened before half time but Denmark’s midfield two bested them in first half. England’s were superior in the second. Adequate.

• 

  Bukayo Saka 6 - Only change from the last game and involved in the equaliser, finding Sterling. A danger on the right against Vestergard but hit and miss. Worked hard with Walker. His last move was to overhit a cross before he was the first player off.

• 

  Raheem Sterling 8 - Started brightly and had a shot parried away by Schmeichel after 38 when he should have scored. Then he put Kjaer under pressure as the Danish captain put the ball into his own net and England drew level. Had three of England’s four shots in the first half (and six overall) Quieter in second, but a vital player still running at speed after 115 minutes.

• 

  Mason Mount 7 - Weak curling shot on 63 didn’t trouble Schmeichel. Cross after 72 looked to be going in put Schmeichel tipped over. England passed ball around the 18 yard box all night, with limited killer instinct in front of goal. Much better in second.

• 

  Harry Kane 8 - Early bending ball across goal towards Sterling as England flew out of the blocks. Shot over after 14 as England kept coming at the Danes. Otherwise frequently dropped deep and allowed runners to attack channels. Did that for the equaliser. Held ball up well; won free-kicks England needed more quality in final third, but Kane gave it in the end. Took controversial penalty poorly. Saved. Swept equaliser in. Ecstasy. Incredible drama.

• 

  SUB: Jack Grealish 6 (On for Saka after 69) - To an ovation from hope he could change the game as he did against Germany. Had an impact, but not as great. Shot seven minutes into time added on. Subbed in second period of extra time for Trippier.

• 

  SUB: Phil Foden 7 (On for Mount after 103) - Went into number 10 position and involved as England dominated, jigging and turning as England completely dominated.

• 

  SUB: Jordan Henderson 6 (On for Rice after 103) - Went alongside Phillips. Tidy.

• 

  SUB: Kieran Trippier 6 (On for Grealish 106) - Did his job in helping England hold their lead.

• 

  Kasper Schmeichel 8 - A super save denied Raheem Sterling but the Denmark goalkeeper conceded only seconds later when Saka’s cross was directed into the net. An even better hand later tipped away a Harry Maguire header. A hand to Kane’s penalty guided it back into the striker’s path. Denmark’s best player.

• 

  Jannik Vestergaard 5 - Aggressive in the challenge but a mixed game that saw the centre-back struggle against the pace of England. Slow to react to the Bukayo Saka’s run that led to the equaliser and that summed up the game for the centre-back who looked exhausted.

• 

  Simon Kjaer 7 - Unfortunate to turn the ball into his own net as Raheem Sterling was waiting to pounce. Led the defence well overall and often the Denmark defender who was in the way of offensive crosses.

• 

  Andreas Christensen 6 - Would have been relieved to see Sterling switch sides not long after the hour mark. Worked tirelessly with England making constant runs in behind and was eventually forced off with a hamstring injury when stretching for a ball.

• 

  Joakim Maehle 4 - Anonymous to Saka’s run that led to England’s equaliser. No one picked up the Arsenal man as Kane played him through astutely. Questionable decision-making defensively overall eventually led to a costly penalty which he may have been unfortunate to concede. A harsh way to go out for the wingback who was excellent throughout Euro 2020.

• 

  Thomas Delaney 5 – A sloppy foul gave a free-kick outside the box that began England’s spell of pressure. Careless with passing that often turned over possession before eventually being replaced. A tough day at the office.

• 

  Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg 7 - Unphased by the occasion and made frequent tackles to relieve pressure. A stand-out in the midfield in a tough night for Denmark.

• 

  Jens Stryger Larsen 6 - Could have taken better care of the ball. Not involved much before eventually being replaced by Daniel Wass.

• 

  Mikkel Damsgaard 7 - The Sampdoria attacking midfielder may be only 21-years-old but he took his free-kick like a major tournament veteran. The attacker’s free-kick gave his nation hope - a vital goal given how England went on to control the game.

• 

  Kasper Dolberg 6 - A nuisance upfront and battled in a physical matchup with Harry Maguire and John Stones. Dolberg was fighting off scraps for the majority of the game with the Danes looking to hit England on the break.

• 

  Martin Braithwaite 5 - Uninvolved for the majority of the game. Worked a yard and forced Pickford to make a save late in extra time.

• 

  SUB: Christian Norgaard (Dolberg 67) 6 - On to help secure a Danish midfield that was beginning to show cracks. Helped against constant waves of England pressure but offered nothing on the opposite end.

• 

  SUB: Yussuf Poulsen (Damsgaard 67) 5- A tall option in the box but didn’t receive the service to be effective. Gareth Southgate’s side had taken full control by the time the target man came on.

• 

  SUB: Daniel Wass (Stryger Larsen 68) 6 - Booked quickly for a foul on Grealish. Helped sure up a right side that was allowing too much pressure.

• 

  SUB: Joachim Andersen (Christensen 79) N/A - On for the injured Andreas Christensen.

• 

  SUB: Mathias Jensen (Delaney 88) N/A - Couldn’t get on the ball as England continued to dominate. Forced off in extra time with an injury to leave Denmark with 10.

• 

  SUB: Jonas Wind (Vestergaard 105) N/A - On for an exhausted Vestergaard.

England manager Gareth Southgate hailed his players for putting on a "special night" at Wembley after overcoming a resolute Denmark to reach the final of Euro 2020.

Southgate's side showed their resolve to conceding their first goal of the tournament to roar back to win 2-1 in extra-time in front of 64,950 fans at a rocking Wembley.

Mikkel Damsgaard’s free-kick saw Jordan Pickford beaten for the first time at Euro 2020 midway through the first half but Southgate’s side rallied impressively and Simon Kjaer’s own goal saw them level before Harry Kane fired the hosts to victory after Kasper Schmeichel saved his initial penalty, sparking pandemonium across the land.

Italy now stand between England and a second major international trophy, 55 years after the Three Lions won the World Cup. The championship match takes place at Wembley on Sunday.

“They’ve responded to what was always going to be a really challenging night,” Southgate said of his players.

“We were so smooth through the quarter-final and relatively unscathed through the second round. We knew that at some point we were going to concede and we would have to respond.

“Denmark have had an incredible tournament. I have got to give them huge credit. I thought they made it really difficult for us tonight. They pressed us so well, scored a fabulous goal – the boy is a super player.

“But I think on the balance of play when you look at the number of saves we forced the goalkeeper to make and long periods of the game where I felt we were the biggest threat, I think we deserved it.

“For our country, I’ve not heard this new Wembley like that ever and to be able to share that with everybody and share it with everybody at home is very special.”

• 

  Fans on the streets celebrate England qualifying for the Euro 2020 final after watching the semi final match between England and Denmark, in Birmingham, England.

• 

  England fans celebrate as they stand on the roof of Leicester Square underground station.

• 

  Fans celebrate outside Wembley Stadium after England beat Denmark 2-1 in extra-time.

• 

  England fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon as they watch a live broadcast of the semi-final match between England and Denmark.

• 

  England fans celebrate after the match.

• 

  England fans celebrate on top of a bus at Piccadilly Circus.

• 

  Fans celebrate after the match.

• 

  England fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon.

• 

  England football fans celebrate in the streets surrounding Piccadilly and Leicester Square.

• 

  England fans celebrate outside Wembley Stadium.

• 

  England fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon as they watch a live broadcast of the semi-final match between England and Denmark.

• 

  England fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon.

• 

  England fans cheer at BOXPARK Croydon.

• 

  England fans celebrate on the streets of Piccadilly Circus.

• 

  Fans in Trafalgar Square celebrate England's second goal, scored by Harry Kane.

• 

  England fans react as they watch a live broadcast of the semi-final match between England and Denmark at Hackney Bridge in London.

• 

  England fans celebrate after the match at Wembley.

• 

  England fans celebrate after the match.

• 

  England fans celebrate after the win over Denmark at Wembley.

England’s victory came three years after a World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia and 25 years on from a last-four defeat to Germany at Euro '96, when Southgate missed the crucial spot-kick in the shootout.

But the Three Lions boss has spoken throughout the tournament about making history rather than fixating on the past.

“I felt calm in the lead up to the game because I felt the players, with what they’ve been through, were ready,” Southgate said.

“You’re never 100 per cent sure how they react in difficult moments but we have talked about it and they stayed clam.

“I didn’t think we kept the ball well enough through Denmark’s pressure from the front three and we’re going to have to do that better on Sunday because Italy are very good at it so we need to find better solutions with that.

“But we found a way to win and we found the way to find the spaces further forward. Once we got into their half we were a threat all night."

Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand admitted he felt bitter after England ended his battling side’s Euro 2020 dream.

Kane scored after England were awarded a penalty by referee Danny Makkelie when Raheem Sterling went down under Joakim Maehle’s challenge.

Hjulmand was unhappy there was a second ball on the pitch at the time of the foul but also insisted it was not a penalty.

Denmark's head coach Kasper Hjulmand. EPA

He said: “It was a penalty which should not have been a penalty. It is something which annoys me right now. We are very disappointed.

“You cannot pass by the ball on the pitch which has so much influence on the game.

“I know it sounds weird right now but I cannot help having these feelings. One thing is to lose a game, it happens, but losing this way is disappointing because these guys have fought a lot.

“It feels bitter but we have to digest this before we can discuss these feelings. It’s a bitter way to leave the tournament.

“The way we lost makes it harder to understand why we lost. I have to be careful with what I say. We have an amazing group and we definitely can do something great again.

“Maybe it is easier for me to say how I feel in a few days.”