Netherlands v England player ratings: Simons 8, Gakpo 6; Foden 8, Kane 6

Three Lions will take on Spain in Sunday's final after 2-1 victory in Dortmund

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  Bart Verbruggen 7/10

  NETHERLANDS RATINGS: No chance with Kane penalty or Watkins winner which were both struck right in corner. Nutmegged by Foden shot but rescued by Dumfries goalline clearance. AFP

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  Denzel Dumfries 7/10

  Ruled to have fouled Kane after VAR review, penalty and yellow card awarded, England captain scores. Stopped Foden shot on line. Hit bar with header. All in first 30 minutes. AFP

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  Stefan de Vrij 7/10

  Helped stifle Kane and Bellingham’s threat but fell short at death when he allowed substitute Watkins just enough time and space to fire home last-gasp winner. PA

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  Virgil van Dijk 8/10

  Up and down tournament for captain but certainly at dominating best here. Denied second-half goal when half-volley saved well by Pickford. Booked for dissent. EPA

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  Nathan Ake 7/10

  Latest left-back to find life tough up against an in-form Saka at Euros but, like rest of teammates, better in second-half performance than first. AFP

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  Tijjani Reijnders 6/10

  Helped Dutch dominate midfield in quarter-final win over Turkey, left chasing England shadows at times, particularly the impressive Mainoo and Foden in the first half. Better after break. EPA

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  Jerdy Schouten 8/10

  Calm and composed in possession, helped Dutch turn first-half struggles into second-half improvement, restricting England’s threat and getting grip on middle of park. PA

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  Xavi Simons 8/10

  Smashed side into a seventh-minute lead with rocket finish after stealing possession off Rice. Lovely out-swinging corner headed against bar by Dumfries. EPA

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  Donyell Malen 6/10

  Replaced Bergwijn in starting XI and while there were flashes of his pace, England dominated first half and Dutch attacking threat was kept to minimum. Hooked at break. AP

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  Memphis Depay 5/10

  Attacker had made very little impact before going down with what looked like hamstring problem and his game was over after 35 minutes. AFP

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  Cody Gakpo 6/10

  One of the players of tournament so far barely given a kick in opening 45 minutes even after positional switch following Depay’s injury. A bit more involved second half but one sniff of goal was brilliantly tackled by Walker. EPAShow less

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  Joey Veerman 7/10

  NETHERLANDS SUBS: (On for Depay 35’) Midfielder on for injured attacker as Dutch looked to bolster middle of park which England were dominating. Whipped in free-kick almost resulted in Van Dijk scoring. APShow less

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  Wout Weghorst 7/10

  (On for Malen 46’) Usual go-to for manager Koeman but the goal never arrived from the big striker who gave Dutch much-need outlet up front. AP

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  Brian Brobbey N/A

  (On for Simons 90 + 3'). EPA

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  Joshua Zirkzee N/A

  (On for Dumfries 90+3’) Getty Images

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  Jordan Pickford 7/10

  ENGLAND RATINGS. Couldn’t stop Simons’ stunning opener – though he did get a touch - but he did stop a 66th-minute Van Dijk effort. Dumfries also hit the crossbar, but England prevailed again. AFP

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  Kyle Walker 7/10

  Much better than in previous matches. Quick to make a key tackle and take the ball off Gakpo who would have been through on goal. AFP

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  John Stones 7/10

  Organised his defence on night when he had battle with Weghorst when big striker was brought on at half-time.

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  Marc Guehi 6/10

  Steady and solid alongside Stones – as he was in the early games in the tournament – though his distribution could be skewed from the left. AFP

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  Kieran Trippier 5/10

  Excellent early cross to Rice during a first half when England had near total control, but the England player who struggled the most. Booked. Off at half time. Getty Images

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  Declan Rice 6/10

  Lost possession which led to Netherlands' stunning opener. Then didn’t connect with a Trippier cross as well as he could not long after. Steadier thereafter. Dropped to pitch in delight at end. AP

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  Kobbie Mainoo 7/10

  So comfortable. Set up Foden for his first half run at goal – the pair continually combined. Defied his age – he’s England’s youngest ever semi-finalist - as he moved forward to shoot himself as the Dutch dropped back. EPAShow less

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  Bukayo Saka 7/10

  Set up Kane on 14th minute and one of England’s best players in an absorbing first half. Thought he’d scored the winner, but offside. Harder for him against Ake in the second half. Booked. EPA

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  Jude Bellingham 5/10

  Not England’s best player and has underwhelmed in the tournament. Ran the ball out of danger after 94 minutes. Booked as England reached a first ever final outside their own country. Getty Images

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  Phil Foden 8/10

  Stunning speed and movement of his feet to almost score after putting ball through goalkeeper’s legs. Beautiful turn before he shot and hit the post. Less effective in the second half, but he ran his socks off and exhausted by the time he was taken off with 10 minutes to go. AFPShow less

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  Harry Kane 6/10

  Fired over after quarter-of-an-hour. That effort earned a controversial penalty which he placed low and hard into the corner. EPA

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  Luke Shaw 7/10

  ENGLAND SUBS: On at half-time and isn’t 100 per cent fit, but hit a sublime, fast, accurate cross in front of the box in 88th minute. Likely starter in final. EPA

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  Cole Palmer 7/10

  (On for Foden 80’) Made his mark by playing pass to Watkins for winning goal. EPA

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  Ollie Watkins 8/10

  The first touch, swivel and shot from the tightest angle. The perfect finish across the goal and beyond the goalkeeper. An inspired substitute as resilient England scored late on yet again. AFP

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  Ezri Konsa N/A

  (On for Saka 90+3’) Getty Images

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  Conor Gallagher N/A

  (On for Mainoo 90+3’) Getty Images

Ollie Watkins struck a stunning injury-time winner as England beat the Netherlands 2-1 on Wednesday to set up a Euro 2024 final showdown with Spain in Berlin.

It was an incredible finish to an evening that began badly for England as Xavi Simons gave the Netherlands an early lead in the semi-final in Dortmund.

However, England were soon level through a Harry Kane penalty following a contentious VAR call by German referee Felix Zwayer, and the match looked set to drift into extra time until Watkins struck.

On for Harry Kane, Watkins received a pass from fellow substitute Cole Palmer with his back to goal in the first minute of stoppage time, turned and fired low into the far corner to leave the Netherlands completely stunned.

“Lost for words really,” said Watkins, whose goal means England have made it to two Euros finals in a row. “When you score there are emotions that come through your body but this is just a different feeling. It was in slow motion when I ran to celebrate with the boys.

“I didn’t want to get off the pitch at the end, I wanted to soak it all in as it doesn’t happen often.

“I've been waiting for that moment for weeks. It's taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am today. I'm delighted. I swear on my life that I said to Cole Palmer that he's going to set me up today and I'm going to score. It's the best feeling ever.

“There's been a lot of criticism but we're in the final and that's all that matters. We've got that bounce back factor. Going behind seems to kick us into gear. We've won on penalties and come from behind.”

It has rarely been a convincing campaign from Gareth Southgate's England side, but they are through to their second consecutive European Championship final as they dream of finally winning a first major trophy since 1966.

To do that they will surely have to perform better than at any point so far in Germany as they face an outstanding Spain team who will also have had an extra 24 hours to prepare for the final, having defeated France 2-1 on Tuesday.

“We're going to get criticism when we don't play well but it's important that we build that resistance to it and we come together and win these games,” said England's Jude Bellingham, who plies his club trade in Spain with Real Madrid.

“These moments are great, it brings us together as a team and a family. These moments make us more together and we take it into the final now.

“Ollie Watkins came on and took his opportunity. I'm buzzing for him. You're not starting every game like you would for your club and it's difficult.

“Spain have looked amazing, they've looked really good. We'll sit down and understand how they play.

“I am really proud of the boys. The reaction, attitude and mentality. Quality is one thing, but those characteristics you cannot learn in training – you get it from experience and each other.

“Now it is one more game. We are tired, it has been a long season, but this is one last push for our country and for history.”