It’s England who will be facing Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin after beating the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-final in Dortnund.

The Three Lions are hoping to go one step further than at Euro 2020 when they lost the final on penalties to Italy. But in their way are the best team at Euro 2024 so far, three-time champions Spain.

England triumphed after a last-minute strike from substitute Ollie Watkins sealed victory. With Gareth Southgate's side looking to be going into extra time for the third successive game after Harry Kane's contentious first-half penalty equalised a thunderous early strike from Xavi Simons until Watkins struck.

Southgate and England have become synonymous with near misses at major tournaments during his eight-year reign but have earned themselves an opportunity write a new chapter in their history. For Southgate, another final is vindication in the methods that have come under such scrutiny after England’s indifferent earlier performances.

And it was the introduction of Watkins with nine minutes left that was decisive, the Aston Villa striker providing energy and pace to trouble the Dutch defence, his finish on the turn across Verbruggen the piece of quality required to win a tight game.

Captain, Harry Kane, and Jude Bellingham were peripheral figures but this England victory contained enough of the positives that have missing previously to send them to Berlin and Sunday’s final against Spain, with optimism and hope. Following the Three Lions’ victory, former England striker, Alan Shearer, said: "They've got everything you need to be successful and that's the reason they've won every single game at this tournament."

Fellow former Three Lions striker, Chris Sutton, added: "It is hard to see anybody touching them, they seem to be on a different level to anybody else in this tournament." A word of caution, however, came from another former England star, Micah Richards, who added: "The worries I had about this Spanish team, they answered them against France - how they can adapt to situations and when you have pace on the wings you always have a chance.

“They look really balanced and I think they are favourites."