Southgate vindicated as super subs send England into Euros final

BERLIN - England took a long time to get going in Germany but march on to Berlin to face Spain in Sunday's Euro 2024 final buoyed by more late drama and their best performance of the tournament to beat the Netherlands 2-1.

Ollie Watkins was the unlikely hero for the Three Lions as the Aston Villa striker smashed in a stoppage-time winner in Dortmund, having only played 20 minutes in the previous five games.

So often derided for his failure to change games from the bench despite the depth of talent at his disposal, England boss Gareth Southgate could drink in the acclaim in Dortmund as his bold substitutions made a decisive impact.

"We all want to be loved, right? So, when you're doing something for your country and you're a proud Englishman and when you don't feel that back and when all you read is criticism, it's hard," Southgate told reporters.

"So, to be able to celebrate a second final is very, very special."

Spain will be favourites for the final after their near-flawless progress through the tough side of the draw, eliminating hosts Germany and France in the process.

England's route to the final has been far more winding and less pleasing on the eye.

But after surviving thanks to late equalisers against Slovakia and Switzerland in the previous two rounds, England finally produced some substance to match their resilience against the Dutch.

Southgate said on the eve of the game his players' mentality had changed from a fear of failure to being inspired by what could be by the end of this week.

Southgate learned his lesson from defeat by Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2020 final against Italy by injecting fresh energy from the bench.

He was rewarded with a second consecutive Euros final and the chance to end 58 years of hurt for English football in Berlin.

"The lads are singing in the dressing room, but they're straight in the ice," said Southgate, with his eyes firmly on the prize.