Euro 2020: England in ecstasy after Kane’s goal puts Three Lions into first major final since 1966

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England’s footballers ended their 55-year wait for a major final last night – and are just 90 minutes from Euro 2020 glory after a nerve-shredding extra-time win over Denmark at Wembley.

More than 66,000 people – joined by Prince William, Boris Johnson and a who’s who of celebrities – packed the stands in Britain’s biggest post-pandemic crowd.

And those fans played a crucial role as they roared their Three Lions heroes home – the 2-1 semi-final win coming by way of a Harry Kane goal in extra time. Gareth Southgate’s man now face Italy on Sunday.

England won a controversial penalty for a trip on Raheem Sterling and though captain Kane saw his effort saved by Danish keeper Kasper Schmeichel the striker was first to pounce on the rebound, slamming the ball home and sending fans into dreamland.

Twenty tension-filled minutes later, the final whistle sounded and Wembley – and millions watching at home – burst into a national chorus of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, with the PM and wife Carrie among those joining in.

It sets up that final against Italy, back at Wembley on Sunday evening. But for the fans, last night was all about ending the decades-long wait for a first final since the 1966 World Cup.

As the victory was confirmed, shirtless fans packed into London’s Trafalgar Square fan zone sprayed beer over each other, singing ‘It’s Coming Home’ and praising manager Gareth Southgate’s team.

Vic Richards, 22, from Croydon, south London, said: ‘I’m still trying to compute what happened, I’ve never seen England make a final.

‘It’s beautiful, it’s unbelievable, I love this country, the players gave it their all. This is an historic occasion, we may never see this again – now we can start to believe.’

Other fans collapsed onto the ground crying with joy or partied on the tables. Oliver Ways, 28, from Mitcham, said: ‘This time it’s coming home, the momentum is with us, I don’t care what anyone says. I’m so drunk but I don’t care – the game was just how we wanted it.

‘I can’t believe I’m saying this but England are in a final!’

The atmosphere inside and outside the ground had been rousing and good-natured.  England players took the knee before kick-off in support of anti-racism, but no boos could be heard. ITV commentators described the ‘buzz’ and ‘sense of occasion’ which could be felt in the massive stadium.

Pubs across Britain had been packed out for the match, with 6.8million pints expected to be poured, and fans spilled out onto the streets after the final whistle. In London around 20 people were arrested.

Fans blocked roads and clambered over a stranded bus in jubilant scenes before being moved on by police to continue their celebrations.

As the result sank in, Prince William, the FA president, led the congratulations. The Duke had cheered England on alongside wife Kate and son Prince George last week but was forced to watch yesterday’s game alone as the Duchess was isolating after a covid Test-and Trace alert.

But in a tweet from the KensingtonRoyal Twitter account, the couple said: ‘What a game, what a result! A huge team effort @England. The whole country will be behind you on Sunday. #ItsComingHome.’

Mr Johnson wrote on Twitter after the game: ‘Tonight @England played their hearts out. What a fantastic performance from Gareth Southgate’s squad. Now to the final. Let’s bring it home.’

Also congratulating the England victory, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted a picture of himself celebrating as he watched the semi-final match on TV, with the hashtag: ‘#ItsComingHome’.

In the stands, football royalty mingled with star celebrities eager to catch the action. David Beckham cheered on his former side sat near 1996 star Paul Gascoigne, who appeared to be nursing facial injuries and wore dark glasses.

Beckham chatted with former England women’s player Alex Scott before kick-off, with director Guy Ritchie and Three Lions comics Frank Skinner and David Baddiel also in attendance. 

James Corden also reunited with his family at Wembley stadium, after 18 months apart, as they cheered on England at the Euros 2020 semi-final.

The Gavin and Stacey star, 42 – who now lives in America – took to Instagram to share a photograph of himself with his parents and two younger sisters in the stands. 

And it wasn’t only British royalty cheering on. Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, his wife Princess Mary, and their 15-year-old son Prince Christian were given exemptions to travel to London for the clash.

Around 8,000 expat Danes living in Britain were also in the Wembley crowd but went home dejected after heir brave run in the tournament was ended.

Their side had taken the lead – a stunning direct freekick from Mikkel Damsgaard beating Jordan Pickford in England’s goal for the first time in the tournament after half an hour.

But the Danish delight was short-lived. A powerful cross from Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka could only be turned into his own net by Denmark captain Simon Kjaer nine minutes later.

It was a cruel twist for Kjaer who won a legion of fans for his reaction when Denmark’s talisman Christian Eriksen collapsed with heart failure in their opening match of the tournament.

Danish ambassador to the UK Lars Thuesen, Who was in the crowd, said the journey had been ‘an emotional rollercoaster’ for his countrymen. Thinking back to Eriksen’s illness, which stunned the footballing world and millions watching on TV, he said:

‘It started out we were crying, we were praying, then a few minutes later, when we realised he was going to recover, we were crying (tears) of joy. There are higher things at stake than football.’

England fans Scarlet Devereux and Lucy Millard, both 18, were elated as they came out of Wembley. Ms Devereux said: ‘It was a brilliant game, the atmosphere was absolutely amazing.

Ms Millard said: ‘It’s the first time in so many years we’ve been in the semi-finals so it’s absolutely amazing. It’s coming home.’

John Samonas, 47, who watched the game from the stands with his son Lucas, 13, said the atmosphere in Wembley Stadium was ‘surreal’.

Mr Samonas, a ship broker from London, said: ‘It was great, I can’t believe it – it was surreal. It was amazing, it was exhausting, it was emotionally draining, just let everything out.’

When asked if he thought England could beat Italy in the final, Lucas, who had just watched his first international game, said: ‘Southgate can do it – it will be difficult but we can win.’

The British Beer and Pub Association said England’s success was a welcome boost for the ailing hospitality industry.

‘With England fans’ support, we hope that pubs will sell 6.8 million pints during the semi-final match,’ the BBPA’s chief executive Emma McClarkin said.

Looking forward to the final, she said it would ‘a huge boost to our pubs and the nation’.

‘After a long wait, the pubs we love should be restriction-free from July 19. Only when the restrictions are removed can our pubs recover, but to do so they need Government investment to build back better.’

Earlier the stadium grounds were awash with red, white and blue, with onlookers describing scenes of ‘carnage’ as England fans sang ‘It’s Coming Home’ and ‘God Save the Queen’, let off flares and did knee slides while taking selfies with rival supporters wearing Viking horns.

Fans without tickets to the game went drinking in Leicester Square before heading to the official fan zone in Trafalgar Square. Three dressed as lions said they were watching the match at Wembley, while a fourth was made up as a ‘lion tamer’ who would ‘keep us under control if Denmark win’.

Ben Edwards, 43, Craig Pope, 47, Matt Glew, 38 and ‘tamer’ Laurence Page, 72, who was wearing an England flag top hat said they were confident of victory. Pointing at his lion headgear, former banker Mr Page added: ‘We paid about £100 per hat but it was worth every single penny, we’ve been asked for autographs and all sorts.’

Some England fans came dressed as knights and faced off against their Danish rivals clad in Viking outfits.

Jospeh Afrane, meanwhile, wore a St George’s flag shirt and tie, shoes decorated with the Union flag and a white suit as he held his England scarf aloft under the famous arch.

The 55-year-old from Battersea, South London, said: ‘It’s time for England to get to a final and I’ll be cheering them on all the way.’

Confident couple Lee and Steph Roberts from Medway in Kent were predicting a 3-1 win to England. Both work for McDonalds – where they met – and shelled out just over £1,000 for the tickets

Lee, 37, said: ‘I went on the UEFA website and snapped them up after the Germany game so it was a bit of a risk as I could’ve been watching Ukraine vs Sweden but luckily we got through and I’m watching England.’

England fans travelled from far and wide to support the team. Two supporters, who gave their names only as Clare, 47 and Charlotte, 44, both from Stockton-on-Tees, said they have travelled around 250 miles to watch the game in London ‘on a whim’.

The pair have no tickets to Wembley, but made the journey to support the team in the capital and enjoy the atmosphere. Clare said: ‘We saw it on YouTube, the fan zone and everything, and we thought we want to be a part of that.’

A father and son said they have travelled to London from Nottingham after winning tickets to the semi-finals two years ago in a ballot.

James Garmon, 45 has brought his son, Harry Garmon, 11, to see a match at Wembley Stadium for the first time, and only surprised him with the tickets recently.

Speaking before they headed to the stadium, Mr Garmon said: ‘Harry is a big football fan, he plays football, so what better time to come down and see the England team.

‘I entered the ballot a couple of years ago to get tickets for the semi-finals, hoping England would get through and the plan was if they got through, though he was nine at the time, I thought I would bring my son to come and see England.

‘It all worked out, it’s been two years in the making.’

Even the Coldstream Guards got into the action, after Prince Charles invited them to blare out renditions of Three Lions and Sweet Caroline from the gardens of Clarence House yesterday.

Is it coming home? Prince William looks dapper in a suit as he cheers on England in the semi-finals against Denmark at Wembley – but Kate Middleton stays at home after being forced into self-isolation

Prince William looked in high spirits as he supported England in the team’s spectacular Euro 2020 semi-final victory over Denmark at Wembley this evening. 

The Duke of Cambridge, 39, who looked dapper in a suit, could be seen applauding from the stands as he cheered on Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad. 

He joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, as well as Danish royals Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, 49, and her husband Crown Prince Frederik, 53, and their 15-year-old son Prince Christian, who also attended the highly anticipated match. 

But while Prince William represented the British monarchy, his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, was forced to self-isolate after she came into contact with someone who tested positive – despite being double-jabbed and testing negative for the virus herself. 

The royal who paired his smart outfit with a red and blue striped tie, was joined by fellow VIPs who were able to watch the game inside Wembley – including former football legend David Beckham.   

The Danish press have been up in arms since it first emerged that their country’s royal family will watch the national team play England in person at Wembley Stadium while millions of Danish football fans are being forced to watch the Euro 2020 semi-final from home. 

The country’s biggest newspaper Ekstra Bladet was among those slamming royals including Australian-born Crown Princess Mary and her son as they left for London yesterday to watch the much-anticipated clash.

Newspaper editor Henrik Qvortrup railed in an editorial that ‘blue blood gives immunity in all respects’. 

However, the Danish royal family hit back at the criticism and instead insisted that it was ‘completely natural’ that it ‘represents Denmark’ at the match.  

Under a deal struck between the British government and UEFA, 2,500 VIPs including royals, politicians and football officials are skipping quarantine so they can watch the match live.

This was while millions of Denmark supporters are forced to stay at home and watch it on their TVs instead.

Just 6,000 expat Danes living in Britain have been allocated tickets among the 60,000-strong Wembley crowd.

Fans living in Denmark were told not to travel otherwise they would fall foul of the mandatory 10 days of self-isolation. 

Denmark fans vowed to ‘come by sea like the Vikings’ as they raged at the Covid rules, with one messaging Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Instagram directly and writing: ‘Why the f*** are Danish fans not allowed at Wembley? If you don’t allow us to take a plane we will do like in the good old days and come by sea. Be ready for a Danish sausage, w*******.’  

The English-language Copenhagen Post wrote: ‘The storm over petty entry requirements, which ensure no Danish fans can travel to support their team in the Euro 2020 semi-final on Wednesday, is quickly escalating into the biggest affront to this country since the British Navy firebombed Copenhagen in 1807. Some observers might even go as far as saying it’s cheating.’ 

Mr Qvortrup, editor of Ekstra Bladet, saw red at the apparent hypocrisy of allowing VIPs to enter the UK for the match. He wrote in an editorial: ‘The Posh are welcome. Others are not.

‘We cannot interpret it any differently when Danish fans are not allowed to travel to England and watch the national team, while those who sit in the most expensive seats are allowed to.

‘The British authorities have strict restrictions on the football fans who pay and create the atmosphere and the joy of football, but at the same time roll out the red carpet to people with VIP status and money.

‘Ekstra Bladet has been told that there will be representatives from the royal family present at Wembley. The royal crown couple and Prince Christian. (…) As we all know, blue blood gives immunity in all respects.’ 

Ministers reportedly agreed a deal with UEFA to exempt officials, politicians and sponsors from travel restrictions so they can go to the semi-finals and final. But the VIPs, who are thought to number in the ‘low thousands’, will have to remain in a ‘bubble’ during their visit, reports suggest.

The deal comes after UEFA threatened to move the games to Hungary unless the British government eased coronavirus travel restrictions for its officials and sponsors.

As part of the deal, around 2,500 VIPs would be allowed into the country and be given special permission to bypass usual travel restrictions, according to the Times newspaper. 

Currently, most of Europe is on the UK’s ‘amber list’, which would usually force arrivals into a self-imposed quarantine for 10 days. But under the plans, which the Telegraph said were negotiated by Boris Johnson’s chief of staff Dan Rosenfield, a window for quarantine free entry will be opened for VIPs.

A royal cheerleader! Crown Princess Mary of Denmark wears a red blazer and white top as she joins husband Crown Prince Frederick and their son Prince Christian, 15, to support their team against England in the semi-final showdown at Wembley Stadium

By CHLOE MORGAN, NICK CRAVEN and JACK WRIGHT for Mailonline

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark put on a stylish display as she attended the England vs Denmark football match at Wembley stadium this evening. 

The Australian-born royal, 49, who opted for the colours of the Danish flag, was joined by her husband Crown Prince Frederik, 53, and their 15-year-old son Prince Christian as they cheered on their country’s football team in the crucial Euros 2020 game. 

The mother-of-four – born Mary Donaldson in Hobart, Tasmania – chose a white top and dark red blazer, which she paired with trousers and accessorised with a tan coloured belt which cinched her in at the waist.

Taking to the stands, the royals could all be seen putting safety first by donning a protective face mask – complete with a Danish flag – to prevent the spread of Covid-19.  

The Danish Royal Family posted a photograph of the three of them posing in the stands at Wembley stadium alongside a caption which translates to: ‘Just arrived at Wembley! Unity has brought us here – and let us show them that we are not going home, but we must move on. Come on, Denmark!’

Crown Princess Mary, who wore her brown hair down in a loose blowdry, added just a pair of dainty earrings and kept her makeup neutral – finishing the look with just a touch of blusher, nude lip and layering of mascara. 

Prince Frederik, meanwhile, wore a navy blazer and white crisp shirt with smart beige trousers, while Prince Christian cut a more relaxed figure in a Denmark football shirt and navy trousers.

The trip comes just a month after Mary was made a regent by her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe, meaning she can perform duties as head of state when the Queen is otherwise engaged.

Mary was the fourth member of the Danish royal family to be named regent after Frederik, his brother Prince Joachim, and the Queen’s sister Princess Benedikte, who are all official stand-ins for the monarch.

The Crown Princess will become Queen of Denmark when Frederik ascends to the throne, following the death or abdication of his mother. 

However, the Danish press have been up in arms since it first emerged that the country’s royal family watched the national team play England in person at Wembley Stadium while millions of Danish football fans were forced to watch the Euro 2020 semi-final from home. 

The country’s biggest newspaper Ekstra Bladet was among those slamming royals including Australian-born Crown Princess Mary and her son as they left for London yesterday to watch the much-anticipated clash against Gareth Southgate’s squad.

Newspaper editor Henrik Qvortrup railed in an editorial that ‘blue blood gives immunity in all respects’. However, the Danish royal family hit back at the criticism and instead insisted that it was ‘completely natural’ that it ‘represents Denmark’ at the match.

However, while Prince William represented the British monarchy, his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, was forced to self-isolate when she came into contact with someone who tested positive – despite being double-jabbed and testing negative for the virus herself.

Under a deal struck between the British government and UEFA, 2,500 VIPs including royals, politicians and football officials are skipping quarantine so they can watch the match live – while millions of Denmark supporters are forced to stay at home and watch it on their TVs instead.

Just 6,000 expat Danes living in Britain have been allocated tickets among the 60,000-strong Wembley crowd after fans living in Denmark were told not to travel otherwise they would fall foul of the mandatory 10 days of self-isolation. 

Denmark fans vowed to ‘come by sea like the Vikings’ as they raged at the Covid rules, with one messaging Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Instagram directly and writing: ‘Why the f*** are Danish fans not allowed at Wembley? If you don’t allow us to take a plane we will do like in the good old days and come by sea. Be ready for a Danish sausage, w*******.’ 

WAGs in wonderland! Better halves of the Three Lions heroes celebrate at Wembley after nail-biting semi-final win

by HARRIET JOHNSON for MailOnline 

The glamorous WAGs of England’s Euro stars cheered on their partners after the Three Lions secured their place in the Euro 2020 final after beating Denmark 2-1 during a nail-biting showdown tonight.

As scores of supporters leapt for joy and began to party into the night, Amie Coady, the wife of Conor Coady, shared a selfie of herself celebrating the historic win and Harry Kane’s wife Kate proudly donned her England football shirt as she beamed with joy.

Elsewhere Harry Maguire’s sister Daisy celebrated from the stands as she watched the Three Lions beat Denmark 2-1.

Earlier today, Megan Davison, 25, who is engaged to goalie Jordan Pickford, took to Instagram to share videos as she joined Harry Maguire‘s fiancée Fern Hawkins on a party bus decorated with balloons and flags to drive from Cheshire to London. 

The women could be seen blasting football anthem Three Lions on the four-hour long journey, before heading to Box Park bar where they enjoyed pre-match drinks.  

Meanwhile the rest of Harry’s family, including his sister Daisy, travelled to London by train yesterday, and stayed overnight in the Hilton hotel at Wembley.

This morning, Daisy shared snaps as she enjoyed breakfast in bed ahead of the big day, before posing for a mirror selfie wearing her cropped England shirt and a pair of flared jeans.

And Kieran Trippier’s wife Charlotte shared a snap as she travelled to the stadium with their toddler son, who proudly wore a football shirt emblazoned with his father’s name on the back.  

Sharing the videos online, the women offered a sneak peek into their own pre-match preparations ahead of tonight’s game. 

It appears that Fern and Megan were the only WAGs travelling down on the colourful bus, which had been decked out with England flag bunting and featured huge balloons adorned with Maguire and Pickford’s names.  

Tagging her boyfriend and Megan’s partner, Fern posted: ‘Come on the boys.’ 

Natural beauty Lauren Fryer, who is the girlfriend of West Ham defender Declan Rice, was also quick to get into the spirit of things. 

She posted a snap online as she dressed the couple’s adorable cockapoo Raffa in an England bandanna, writing: ‘It’s coming home.’  

Meanwhile Harry Maguire’s parents and siblings appeared to travel down to London on the train last night, with Daisy posting a snap as they arrived at St Pancreas. 

Tagging his mother Zoe, father Alan and brothers Joe and Lawrence, she wrote: ‘Let’s goo.’ 

The group then appeared to enjoy a meal out with other family members from the squad, including Jordan Pickford’s mother Susan.   

Megan and Jordan, who live together in Altringham, Cheshire, have been dating since she was 14 and he was 16 after meeting at school in Sunderland. 

The couple appeared to announce their engagement when Megan was sported wearing a gorgeous engagement ring during the 2018 World Cup in Russia and welcomed their first child together in February 2019. 

Instagram devotee Megan boasts over 50K followers and often shares loved up snaps of them together in their mansion located in Cheshire’s so-called ‘golden triangle. 

Meanwhile striking brunette Fern Hawkins has been dating Harry Maguire for nine years, with the couple recently getting engaged.

The Sheffield beauty, a First Class Graduate in physiotherapy, regularly posts photos of her amazing physique in bikini shots on social media.

Clearly besotted with each other, the couple are frequently seeing enjoying romantic holidays, with Fern sharing snaps from sun-drenched villas and sojourns to Paris. 

Beaming Boris and Carrie cheer England to victory! PM and wife watch on from stands at Wembley as Three Lions surge into the Euro 2020 final

The Prime Minister and his wife cheered on England as they beat Denmark 2-1 last night.

It is the squad’s biggest football game since the historic 1966 World Cup victory. 

England pulled even with Denmark thanks to an own goal as the first half of their blockbuster Euro 2020 semi-final showdown went 1-1, and a late penalty brought England ahead 2-1, securing the win. 

Thousands of England football fans had chanted ‘It’s Coming Home’ outside Wembley Stadium for up to eight hours ahead of the semi-final match against Denmark.

Gareth Southgate’s squad faced off against the Danes at 8pm, with an estimated 30 million people tuning in to watch the showdown on TV and 60,000 packing out the home of English football for the game. 

The Prime Minister tweeted ‘We’re behind you England!’ and posted a picture of himself wearing a shirt with the name ‘Boris’ and a number 10 emblazoned on the back as he gets into the back of a car. 

He and his wife Carrie were in the crowd at Wembley cheering on England.  

The couple had previously been pictured cheering on England against Germany on June 29. 

Wembley was awash with red, white and blue, with onlookers describing scenes of ‘carnage’ with huge numbers of England fans sing ‘It’s Coming Home’ and ‘God Save the Queen’.

Fans also let off flares and did knee slides while taking selfies with rival supporters wearing Viking horns.

There was more expectation on England in the European Championship this summer than when they went on a surprise run to the last four of the 2018 World Cup, and they have thus far risen to the challenge.  

While Gary Neville said he has ‘genuine confidence in this manager and players’, the former England and Manchester United defender insisted nothing less than their best display will be enough to carry them into Sunday’s showpiece.

Just hours before kick-off, Neville wrote on Instagram: ‘History beckons for this team. To reach back-to-back Semi-Finals is incredible, but it’s not enough. You become nearly men!

‘I do have genuine confidence in this manager and players that this time a semi-final isn’t the end! To win any semi-final takes a great performance. This is a really good Denmark team and anything less than our best and/or luck will not be enough.

‘The only danger is that the lads don’t see the danger. When you’re euphoric and on a wave in sport or life you can have that feeling it’s never going to end and something becomes your right. It doesn’t work like that.

‘Tonight is a night to be cold, don’t let emotion take over, stick to the manager’s plan and focus. Go for it lads! Focus and grab this chance!’

Neville was part of the England coaching staff in their last appearance at the European Championship when they were defeated by Iceland, working under Roy Hodgson, who believes the current crop have been ‘absolutely perfect’.

‘I’m very confident indeed because I think the England team is playing so exceptionally well from the start of the tournament really,’ he told ITV’s Good Morning Britain.

‘In fact, they have been faultless. I can’t think of anything to criticise, although I’m sure there are people who do find something. But they must be hard pushed to find something. It’s been absolutely perfect.’

Hodgson said the Wembley crowd will ‘play a major part’ but is dreading the prospect of a penalty shoot-out.

‘My main hope tonight is that the game won’t go to penalties,’ he added. ‘You can argue that the penalty shoot-out is better than the flip of a coin, but it is a very cruel way to lose matches.’

MARTIN SAMUEL’S MATCH REPORT: England’s 55-year final wait is OVER with Harry Kane the king on Wembley night of high drama, with Italy up next for a chance at Euro 2020 glory to seal the dream

Touching me, touching you. England are in their first final since 1966. At Wembley, against Italy. Drink it in. Who knows when we will pass this way again.

Gareth Southgate’s hoodoo breakers did it once more. Four consecutive semi-finals lost in extra-time. The fifth, won. When it was over the players and staff linked arms and sang Sweet Caroline as they stood in front of the small section of Wembley that houses family and friends Their loved ones. 

They are the loved ones now, too, of course. The nation will love this. Love this team. Love what they stand for, what they represent. The resilience they showed, fighting back having gone a goal down. The bravery to win in a period of the match in which England teams have traditionally stumbled. Southgate let his emotion out, too. Walked to the noisiest section of the crowd, punching the air, clenching his fists, screaming at the top of his lungs. What a manager he is proving to be.

A yes man? Malleable? Don’t be soft. He brought fans’ favourite Jack Grealish on after 69 minutes, used him to run Denmark ragged and then, having got ahead, removed him at half-time of extra time for Kieran Trippier to shut the game down. That is a different form of courage. 

The bravery to be unpopular, to be the scapegoat if it goes wrong. With seven minutes to go, Martin Brathwaite had a shot tipped round by Jordan Pickford. Had that gone in, Southgate would have known who his critics would hold responsible. He didn’t care. He did what he believed was right for the team. That’s what leaders do.

And it paid off. England won. England are in the final. The end justified the means. Every decision to here can be defended on this simple outcome. 

That’s football and, at last, England are actually quite good at it. Pinch yourself and believe, because it is what this team and its manager deserves.

With hindsight, it is possible to say England’s victory was visible from some way out. Denmark had a very good spell in the middle of the first-half, and took the lead, but England were the better side across two hours and any other result would have been a travesty. 

More to the point, when Grealish came on it was because Southgate sensed Denmark were there for the taking, and he was right. They looked leggy, tired, as if their incredible tournament journey was nearing its end. By the end of the game, it was as if the Danes were just hanging on, trying to get to the penalty shoot-out that spins the wheel one last time – certainly in semi-finals against England.

As for England, they were home; they just couldn’t find the key to fit the door. Ultimately, though, the depth of talent in this squad is what got them over the threshold. The sheer number of gifted footballers this country can throw at a football match these days. 

This is not a golden generation, but it is a gem of a squad. So there was no let up for an exhausted Danish team. Grealish, then Phil Foden, arrived. Forces massed on the touchline, in case. England ran them, and ran them, and ran them. And finally, Denmark cracked.

Joakim Maehle lunged in, with tired legs, and brought down Raheem Sterling. Referee Danny Makkelie – destined to be the most popular official in this country since that Russian linesman – pointed to the spot. 

A VAR check confirmed his decision. Kasper Schmeichel thought it harsh, but then he always does unless its one of those tumbles that Jamie Vardy makes – and Harry Kane stepped up to the ball.

This is England, however. Nothing is straightforward. Kane has scored more goals against Schmeichel than any other goalkeeper, but if he has taken a poorer penalty in his life, it is hard to remember it. 

Good height for a goalkeeper, not near enough to the corner, Schmeichel – who had an outstanding game – was so early on it he pushed it out rather than round. And Kane was there first. 

Finished into the opposite corner, Schmeichel stranded. England’s joint top tournament goalscorer now, level with Gary Lineker. Scenes. 

It’s going to be hard, the final. Harder than this? Probably. Italy are a better team than Denmark. Kasper Hjulmand’s team have had a brilliant tournament in the most testing circumstances, but Italy are arguably the best of it to here, England aside. For this is also a very good team. 

Credit Sterling for never stopping the forward momentum; credit the XI for bouncing back after adversity in the 30th minute. And credit Southgate, too. This is his group, his men, and moulded in his determined image.

Harry Maguire pointed out in the week before this game that England had yet to be tested by going behind. How would they react? Last night we found out, and in the most pressured circumstances. Half hour, England went behind; 39th minute, England equalised. There’s the answer. It wasn’t all plain sailing, far from it. But in that spell, there was at least a clue about the nerve and resolve of this team.

Denmark are good. Ignore those who spout about England’s easy route. Denmark have given every team a game to here, including Belgium, the world’s number one. This was no exception. England started ferociously, as one suspects the Danes knew they would, yet couldn’t maintain such a tempo. Soon, they stopped looking after the ball and Denmark sniffed the wind and sensed change. 

Too many sloppy passes, too much emotion, too many fouls. Denmark got the ball, slowed the game down. Denmark began dictating. For 20 minutes or so, they looked the better side. In the 25th minute, Mikkel Damsgaard – 21-years-old and playing for Sampdoria – cut inside from the left and struck a shot which curled just wide of the far post. That was the warning shot. 

England were conceding a lot of free-kicks now, and Denmark had worked on their set pieces. A favourite tactic was to cram as many players as possible into a tight space and then break off in all directions like a disturbed ants nest. Chaos reigned. After one, with players squeezed into a space so small they could have been captured by a medium-sized butterfly net, Luke Shaw tugged Andreas Christensen. 

This brought another free-kick, further forward. Damsgaard stood over it. Statisticians had just noted that Pickford had broken Gordon Banks’ record of 720 minutes without conceding a goal, held since 1966. That’s what is called tempting fate.

Damsgaard could not have struck it better. It flew over a jumping Kane in the England wall – he didn’t even flinch – and into the top but not the corner, past a despairing Jordan Pickford. Should he have got it? He seemed to think so. It was the first free-kick goal of Euro 2021. The first England had conceded in the tournament and across 691 minutes of football. And, suddenly, it felt like of one of those nights.

Yet this England is made of sterner stuff, perhaps, then previous incarnations. The crowd’s faith may have wavered, but there was great self-belief in the way they achieved parity. In the 38th minute, a lovely cross by Kane was met by Sterling forcing one of the saves of the tournament from Schmeichel. Just 43 seconds later, England were level.

Ever wondered why Kane drops deep to take the ball to feet? Now you know. It was this manoeuvre that allowed him to slip Bukayo Saka in and his cross was turned into his own net by captain Simon Kjaer. Not his fault, entirely, though. Behind him lurked Sterling, who would surely have scored had he left it. It wasn’t Kjkaer’s night.  

Early in the second-half he was almost sparked out by Maguire jumping for a ball. It looked entirely accidental and Maguire had to be calmed down by former Leicester team-mate Schmeichel when Makkelie showed him a yellow card. Lucky, though. Before tournament booking amnesties were introduced that would have been a ban for the final. 

By the 69th minute it was Grealish time. On for Saka, as expected, and immediately committing Denmark to risk-taking fouls, running at their defenders, inviting the rash and the panicked. Daniel Wass, also a substitute, was in the book within three minutes of arrival. 

It may have been perplexing to see him withdrawn – the last England substitute this happened to in a competitive match was Aaron Lennon in 2006 – but Grealish did exactly as Southgate wanted. He tired Denmark, he challenged them when they were struggling to resist. He only lasted 42 minutes, including injury time, but it was key.

So, another milestone achieved, another curse lifted. Next up, the first final since 1966 and, for once, a good omen. England have never lost one of those.