{"id":70214,"date":"2021-07-08T15:38:21","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T15:38:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=70214"},"modified":"2021-07-08T15:38:21","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T15:38:21","slug":"england-survive-denmark-scare-to-reach-first-major-final-in-55-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/?p=70214","title":{"rendered":"England survive Denmark scare to reach first major final in 55 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Sports Desk:<\/strong> England will play in their first major tournament final for 55 years after coming from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 after extra time in front of a delirious 65,000 crowd at Wembley in Wednesday's Euro 2020 semi-final.<\/p>\n

Mikkel Damsgaard's stunning free-kick after 30 minutes threatened another semi-final disappointment for Gareth Southgate's side, three years on from losing in the last four of the World Cup.<\/p>\n

But Simon Kjaer's own goal levelled before half-time and a controversial penalty proved decisive when Harry Kane scored on the rebound after his initial effort was saved by Kasper Schmeichel.<\/p>\n

England will attempt to win the European Championship for the first time when they face Italy back at Wembley in Sunday's final.<\/p>\n

“For once it fell our way,” said Kane. “We responded really well after falling 1-0 down but we controlled the game.<\/p>\n

“First time in our history to get through to the European final and at Wembley, it is one of the proudest moments of my life for sure.”<\/p>\n

Defeat ends Denmark's fairytale run to the semi-finals, the furthest they have been at a tournament since winning Euro 92.<\/p>\n

The Danes' tournament began in nearly-tragic circumstances when star midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest in their opening game against Finland.<\/p>\n

Kasper Hjulmand's men have since ridden an emotional wave and played plenty of slick football in sticking four goals past Russia and Wales on their way to the semi-finals.<\/p>\n

However, England's huge advantage in having six of their seven matches on home soil has paid off as they were the physically fresher side in the latter stages.<\/p>\n

And Hjulmand said his side's exit was even more “bitter” because of the manner of the winning goal.<\/p>\n

“One thing is to lose a game, but losing this way is a disappointment because these guys have fought a lot,” said Hjulmand.<\/p>\n

“We have to digest this before we can describe these feelings. It's a bitter way to leave the tournament.”<\/p>\n

Roared on by the deafening noise created by the biggest crowd for an England game in nearly two years, the hosts came flying out of the traps.<\/p>\n

Kane's teasing cross just evaded Raheem Sterling as he burst in towards the far post.<\/p>\n

Denmark settled after a shaky start and started to pose a threat themselves as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg shot straight at Jordan Pickford before Martin Braithwaite and Damsgaard saw efforts fly off target.<\/p>\n

– Damsgaard stunner –<\/p>\n

England were on a national record run of seven consecutive clean sheets, but were finally breached in spectacular fashion by Damsgaard's free-kick that flew into the top corner.<\/p>\n

Any questions over how Southgate's men would react to falling behind for the first time in the tournament were emphatically answered as England rapidly hit back.<\/p>\n

Sterling should have equalised when he fired straight into Schmeichel's midriff with just the ‘keeper to beat.<\/p>\n

Moments later, the hosts were level when Kane freed Bukayo Saka down the right and Kjaer turned into his own net under pressure from Sterling.<\/p>\n

Denmark's exertions in being forced into a 9,000-kilometre (5,592 mile) round trip for their quarter-final win over the Czech Republic in Baku showed in the second half as they desperately tried to keep England at bay.<\/p>\n

– Penalty controversy –<\/p>\n

Schmeichel kept his side in the game, flying low to his right to parry Harry Maguire's header in the second half and from Kane early in extra time.<\/p>\n

England's pressure finally paid off in controversial circumstances when Sterling was awarded a soft penalty as he fell under a challenge by Joakim Maehle in the 104th minute.<\/p>\n

Schmeichel even denied Kane from the spot but the ball fell kindly for the England captain to sweep home his fourth goal of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Southgate was the fall guy when England last made it to a Euro semi-final 25 years ago as he missed the decisive penalty in a shoot-out defeat to Germany.<\/p>\n

But he has the ultimate shot at redemption come Sunday as England have the chance to finally bring a major trophy home after so many years of hurt.<\/p>\n

“When you've waited as long as we have to get through a semi-final, the players — considering the limited international experience some of them have — have done an incredible job,” said Southgate.<\/p>\n

“The most pleasing thing is we've given the fans and nation a fantastic night and the journey carries on for another four days.<\/p>\n

“We've got to enjoy the fact we're in the final but there's one more massive hurdle to conquer.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sports Desk: England will play in their first major tournament final for 55 years after coming from behind to beat Denmark 2-1 after extra time in front of a delirious 65,000 crowd at Wembley in Wednesday’s Euro 2020 semi-final. Mikkel Damsgaard’s stunning free-kick after 30 minutes threatened another semi-final disappointment for Gareth Southgate’s side, three […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":70215,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n