![Four touches by Watkins sets up England final spot](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1720669873/articles/GutPye-GG1720679939244/FOUR-TOUCHES-BY-WATKINS-SETS-UP-ENGLAND-FINAL-SPOT.jpg)
England 2
Kane (18 pen), Watkins (90)
Netherlands 1
Simons (7)
In a tournament where every Gareth Southgate decision has been questioned and criticised, it is one of his decisive substitutions that has returned England back to European football’s greatest stage, and a chance of redemption for Euro 2020. Many might say it was the obvious move to take off Harry Kane but it still wasn’t as clear as Ollie Watkins’s sublime strike. Four touches were enough, maybe yet to rectify 58 years.
This is something that shouldn’t be overlooked in all of the undercurrents that will swirl around a gruelling 2-1 victory over the Netherlands.
England are back in a major final, their second in three years, and just the third in history. It is the sort of record this football culture has long desired but now there is the demand for more.
The problem is the very fixture will demand more, as Southgate’s side take on the best team in the tournament in Spain. Those are discussions for the next few days, though. For now, it is only the moment to revel in something marvellous. Watkins’s flying finish was certainly fitting of the moment.
In reaching the final, too, there was at least the sense of a team arriving – if only briefly. England’s spell between Xavi Simons’s brilliant opening goal and half-time was by a significant distance their best period of football in this tournament. They looked like what the vision of this team should be.
This story is from the July 11, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 11, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
!['I didn't think I'd make it'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/x4eZeDeQG1726122253187/I-DIDNT-THINK-ID-MAKE-IT.jpg)
'I didn't think I'd make it'
Adam Smith, the commentator with a voice synonymous with boxing’, tells Alex Pattle about his enforced absence from the sport and his agonising battle with cancer
![England charge back after early Australian fireworks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/ED9yWaEBc1726122191579/ENGLAND-CHARGE-BACK-AFTER-EARLY-AUSTRALIAN-FIREWORKS.jpg)
England charge back after early Australian fireworks
England weathered some early fireworks from Travis Head to restrict Australia to 179 in their series-opening T20 against Australia.
![Reeves must cut the gloom to return the UK to growth](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/KyyHwe6MK1726122036635/REEVES-MUST-CUT-THE-GLOOM-TO-RETURN-THE-UK-TO-GROWTH.jpg)
Reeves must cut the gloom to return the UK to growth
Not many people are inclined to feel much sympathy for Rachel Reeves at the moment the cut to winter fuel payments could hardly have gone down worse but she’s been dealt a dismal hand. And now the economy has stalled on her.
![Stones opens up on Euros hurt and Harry's hundred.](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/yb828pjQ41726122110507/STONES-OPENS-UP-ON-EUROS-HURT-AND-HARRYS-HUNDRED.jpg)
Stones opens up on Euros hurt and Harry's hundred.
Defender eyes century of caps as young Lions add energy’
![‘Age gap, schmage gap - it's a bit cringe, but love is love'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/VjUSLsxxY1726121857717/AGE-GAP-SCHMAGE-GAP-ITS-A-BIT-CRINGE-BUT-LOVE-IS-LOVE.jpg)
‘Age gap, schmage gap - it's a bit cringe, but love is love'
Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall are co-writers, co-stars, and married. They tell Ellie Harrison what it’s like to work together on their hit comedy series Colin from Accounts’
![How 'Funeral' cost Arcade Fire blood, sweat and tears](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/r5O_9AXQm1726120404856/HOW-FUNERAL-COST-ARCADE-FIRE-BLOOD-SWEAT-AND-TEARS.jpg)
How 'Funeral' cost Arcade Fire blood, sweat and tears
Mark Beaumont talks to members of the band about how the seminal album was shaped by death, near-fatal live shows and the Montreal music scene, 20 years since its initial release
!['I realised he could kill me](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/r_sw6sZFE1726120065066/I-REALISED-HE-COULD-KILL-ME.jpg)
'I realised he could kill me
After James Barr’s ex became abusive, the comedian ended up living in fear of his partner. He believes we need to talk more about domestic violence in the queer community
!['I use my fuel allowance to go out for dinner at The Ivy'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/RSNIBd7PM1726119958803/I-USE-MY-FUEL-ALLOWANCE-TO-GO-OUT-FOR-DINNER-AT-THE-IVY.jpg)
'I use my fuel allowance to go out for dinner at The Ivy'
As the backlash grows over the decision to cut the benefit for some pensioners, Zoe Beaty heads to Harrogate in Yorkshire where she nears two very different takes on Labour’s policy
![Where's a warm winter trip outside the Schengen area?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/TnigoyL6V1726119855147/WHERES-A-WARM-WINTER-TRIP-OUTSIDE-THE-SCHENGEN-AREA.jpg)
Where's a warm winter trip outside the Schengen area?
A Brexit really does keep on giving, doesn’t it? The decision to leave the European Union was followed by the UK securing its status as a “third country”, alongside Paraguay and East Timor, thereby making British travellers subject to all kinds of red tape.
![The thrilling tale of six days that changed Britain forever](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1829729/-EyElmB-K1726119647748/THE-THRILLING-TALE-OF-SIX-DAYS-THAT-CHANGED-BRITAIN-FOREVER.jpg)
The thrilling tale of six days that changed Britain forever
Ben Macintyre’s unputdownable new book The Siege’ tells the story of an SAS op like no other, writes Robert McCrum