Harry Kane did it the hard way, but the Spurs striker’s class eventually shone through as he sent the rebound from Kasper Schmeichel’s save inside the Danish net to put England in the final of Euro 2020.
Gareth Southgate’s side had their work cut for them when Mikkel Damsgaard put the Danes ahead half an hour from kick-off. England responded almost immediately as Simon Kjaer turned a cross from Bukayo Saka at the back of his own net.
The match went to extra time after the score remained 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes of football.
The Three Lions sent wave after wave of attack to breach the desperate Danish defence and finally succeeded in doing so when Raheem Sterling was deemed to have been fouled inside the penalty area in the first half of extra time.
The decision was debatable indeed, but it meant that England had the chance to take the lead for the first time in the match, and up stepped their captain Harry Kane.
They could take their destiny into their own hands with one kick of the ball, but with thousands of nervous eyes on you in extra time – it is never as easy as it looks.
With the entirety of Wembley on their feet nervously, Kane succumbed to the pressure and could only come up with a feeble attempt to the left of Kasper Schmeichel.
The Denmark goalkeeper was quick to react and dived the right way, but Kane showed predatory instinct to tap in from the rebound and ensue English euphoria.
It was a rare miss from the spot for the English forward, but he immediately redeemed himself and ensured that England had one foot in Sunday’s final.
The final whistle confirmed their progress, and meant that Italy awaited Gareth Southgate’s men in the EURO 2020 final – despite a few hiccups along the way, they were in the position that they wanted to be and are only one game away from eternal glory.
