[benbsb29]

Netherlands vs England - Semi Final 2

England make it to the finals of the Euro Cup, for the second time in a row. Brilliant goal from Watkins in the final minutes of standard time, but personally the team didn't deserve the win.

IMHO, the penalty awarded to Kane was the turning point and ideally was self-inflicted damage rather than a deliberate foul as both players were going for the ball and Kane's kick came into contact with Dumfries's boot.

Unfortunate for the Netherlands, who once again stumble in the final stages of yet another tournament.

[Axe77]

Netherlands - England Semis

Didn’t agree with the penalty at all but still was a good match overall. The first and third goals were both top class. I do think both teams were decently matched (in their respective part quality part underwhelming sort of way).

In my books, the Spain - Germany quarter final remains the highlight match so far, worthy of being a final in itself. The two semis were reasonably matched for thrills although I think I enjoyed the Spain - France semis more. Spain will enter the finals IMO as the favoured team to win I suppose basis their form so far.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by benbsb29

Unfortunate for the Netherlands, who once again stumble in the final stages of yet another tournament.

Netherland is to football is what South Africa is to cricket

I so much wanted them to make through to the finals (with the kind of football they displayed), but there's a twist in the tale. Seeing England play in this tournament, I guess it will be a dud finals and cake walk for Spaniards.

[am1m]

Spain are good, potentially great, but England and Southgate are lucky. And like Napoleon said, "I know he's a good general, but is he lucky?" Looking forward to the final!

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by NomadSK

Netherland is to football is what South Africa is to cricket

Totally agree!

Originally Posted by am1m

Spain are good, potentially great, but England and Southgate are lucky. And like Napoleon said, "I know he's a good general, but is he lucky?" Looking forward to the final!

How else can we explain a team that is on the verge of losing on more than one occasion, only to score goals in the dying minutes and getting lifelines that they then latched onto and scrambled free? Let's not even talk about the penalties.

[ex-innova-guy]

P-R-I-O-R-I-T-I-E-S



P.S.- It’s not coming home!

[ABHI_1512]

I don’t know if Holland will ever play any major final at all despite having such talented players for so long ! A team which I immensely love but yet, every time they promise more, only to be fizzled out. The early goal yesterday was such a joy but then came the atrocious penalty decision. I say atrocious since it was awarded after a video replay of the whole incident ! The referee clearly saw some other footage which the whole world didn’t

Both France and England played sub par on the way to the semi finals. France deservedly got booted out by Spain but England got lucky again. English fans will be over the moon probably by two successive Euro finals but not realising what awaits them in the finals. Even Georgia played better football than this team of superstars from England and yet, they will be playing the finals.

[benbsb29]

It’s NOT coming home…

Congrats Spain. You played the best football all tournament and well deserved as European Cup champions 2024.

[ex-innova-guy]

What a cracking second half it was. In-form Palmer brought on as a sub played out well for England, but not as well as Oyarzabal! His through ball to Cucurella was inch-perfect, which Walker couldn’t intercept, and Cucurella returned the favour with a beautiful assist.

As expected, it’s not coming home. Happy that they lost on normal time rather than penalties. If they had lost there, we all know how toxic it would have been again. They have talented lads, but the chemistry just isn’t there as a team.

[bijims]

Congrats to Spain! They played beautiful football and well-deserved champions of EURO 2024. This is their fourth EURO (1964,2008,2012 and 2024) which is the most of any nation in the competition. Heartbroken for England, it's their second consecutive EURO final loss (Italy in Euro 2020 and Spain in 2024)

[volkman10]

And in 2024 Copa América,

[akhil_007]

Originally Posted by ABHI_1512

I don’t know if Holland will ever play any major final at all despite having such talented players for so long ! A team which I immensely love but yet, every time they promise more, only to be fizzled out.

Very true. Their "Total Football" is a treat to watch and is a celebration of the sport. I have been watching it from the old days of Edgar Davids, Van Nistelrooy, Arjen Robben and likes. They somehow fail to convert their gameplay to wins. More often than not, it becomes very difficult to pinpoint why they lost.

England is another story altogether. Start-Studded since the days of Beckham-Lampard-Gerrard-John Terry. Its all showbiz in terms of talent and on paper. But they always never reach their potential.

[androdev]

Two finals to catch up and hardly got any sleep but worth it :-)