In a major soccer tournament, England has broken through its semifinal ceiling. For the first time in 55 years, a championship match is on the horizon. In the 104th minute, Harry Kane converted the rebound after his initial penalty was saved, giving England a 2-1 win against Denmark in extra time in the European Championship semifinals at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.
On Sunday, England will face Italy in their first World Cup final since 1966, at Wembley Stadium in London. England’s only international title is still that. The English have lost four times in the semifinals of either the World Cup or the European Championship in the intervening 55 years. As a result, this will go down in English soccer history as one of the most significant triumphs. Three of them were decided on penalties — in 1990, 1996, and 2018. That seems to be the plan until Raheem Sterling wriggled his way into the area along the right side, cut inside, and collided with Mattias Jensen.
Kasper Schmeichel of Denmark guessed right on how to save Kane’s penalty, but the England captain responded fast on the rebound and slotted the ball into the net from six yards out.
Denmark’s players were on their knees by that moment, their emotionally charged run to the semifinals fueled by a desire to win the trophy for Christian Eriksen after his collapse on the field during the group stage.
Danish chances of a comeback were harmed by having to play the second half of extra time with only 10 men when Jensen was forced off injured. Denmark had used up all six of its substitutes by that point. When Mikkel Damsgaard curled a free-kick into the top corner in the 30th minute, England showed another side by rallying for victory after conceding for the first time at Euro 2020. After Simon Kjaer’s own goal in the 39th minute leveled the score, England dominated the second half against a tired opponent.
