Euro 2020: England Reaches First Major Final in 55 Years After Beating Denmark

Harry Kane netted an extra-time goal as England beat Denmark 2-1 to advance to the 2020 European Championship final against Italy.

In the first period of extra time, Kane knocked in the rebound after Denmark’s Kasper Schmeichel had saved his initial spot-kick attempt to give England the lead and earn them a berth in the Euro final.

Bukayo Saka was back in Gareth Southgate’s starting XI after making way for Jadon Sancho due to a training injury ahead of England’s 4-0 win against Ukraine in the quarterfinals, while Denmark made no changes from a last-8 victory over the Czech Republic.

England came in as favourites to win the Euro from the remaining teams, but Denmark took a surprise lead near the 30-minute mark when youngster Mikkel Damsgaard hit a perfect free kick from distance past Jordan Pickford to make it 1-0.

The goal was the first scored from a direct free kick at this summer’s Euro and put an end to Pickford’s streak of clean sheets for the entirety of the tournament that lasted for a total of 725 minutes including games before England started their trophy quest.

Denmark’s lead didn’t last long though, as England drew level through a Simon Kjaer own goal when he slid to block a Saka cross headed for Raheem Sterling and instead redirected it into his own net.

An entertaining end-to-end second half had plenty of action, but very few legitimate chances for either side and the game went to extra time — a record seventh such occurrence in European Championship history.

The goal, Kane’s fourth thus far at the 2020 Euro, puts him level with Gary Lineker for most goals in England’s major tournament history with 10.

England, who are in their first major tournament final since beating West Germany at the 1966 World Cup showcase, now face an Italy side that have won all of their matches thus far in the Euro final at Wembley on Sunday.

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