Analysis

What the papers say: England make history - worth the wait!

Rounding up the reaction of the national newspapers as England reach a major tournament final for the first time in 55 years after beating Denmark 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley

Thursday 8 July 2021 18:33, UK

England won their first semi-final since the 1966 World Cup when Harry Kane's extra-time goal, following up after his penalty had been saved, earned a 2-1 victory over Denmark on Wednesday that sent them into Sunday's Euro 2020 final against Italy.

On an unforgettable night in front of almost 60,000 fans, most of them delirious with joy, England reached the European Championship final for the first time, though they had to come from behind as a Simon Kjaer own goal cancelled out Mikkel Damsgaard's superb free kick for the Danes in the first half.

The home side were on top throughout but struggled to break down the battling Denmark defence, until they were awarded a penalty in the 103rd-minute after Raheem Sterling went down with minimum contact to allow captain Kane to decide it.

Sky Sports takes a look at the morning newspapers after the night before...

Under the headline 'England make history', The Times' Henry Winter writes: "England are in a final - a final! - and these are the strangest, rarest and most beautiful of words to write. Can 55 years of hurt really be about to end? Can England overcome the redoubtable Italians, the team with so much defensive resilience embodied by Giorgio Chiellini, and so much nous encapsulated by Jorginho?

"England know they are in for the toughest of tests at Wembley on Sunday yet they knew that against Germany and passed. Gareth Southgate's men knew that against the magnificent Kasper Schmeichel and Denmark here, were the better side and eventually reached the final through Harry Kane's finish.

"Lady Luck certainly smiled on England in extra time."

In The Independent, Miguel Delaney writes: "England, at last, go the distance. They finally have plans for final day, stay at Wembley, dream away. Their most enthralling and difficult game of the tournament fittingly sets up the country's biggest day in 55 years. England are at last back in a final, for the first time since 1966, and a day where the echoes of that date will be all around.

"Solutions for these can wait until Thursday. This is a moment of celebration for now, and revelling in the team's mental resolve. Even Pickford produced a fine save in those tense last few minutes. He'd recovered. It was all part of the story of one of England's greatest days, if not necessarily their greatest games."

The Daily Mail lead with the headline 'King Kane' after his fourth goal in the competition steered England into the final. Martin Samuel's match report focuses on how England have grown under Gareth Southgate and begins: "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."

In The Daily Telegraph, Jason Burt writes: "There is no need for tears, except for those shed in joy and relief. There is no need for dreaming or pained cries of "what if?". Not this time. Make your plans for Sunday. England are in the final.

"The scenes at the end will live forever. They will be replayed and replayed. The England players and staff locked arms along one touchline, close to where their families were, and joined in a resounding communion of Sweet Caroline. No England fan had departed.

"The supporters also serenaded Gareth Southgate telling him he is "the one" and the manager punched the air to all four corners of the stadium as it rocked and rolled and had its most special night since being reopened. So good. So good. So good."

After 55 years of hurt, both The Mirror and The Metro reflect on 'finally' being in the final of a major tournament, while The Sun's Dave Kidd writes: "When the moment arrived, it felt as if 55 years of footballing pain and 16 months of pandemic frustrations had vanished in one explosion of joy.

"And, as they like to sing round Wembley way, good times never seemed so good. The last time England reached a final, it was rolled out on Pathe newsreel, this time it was all over TikTok and Instagram.

"It has been one hell of a wait, so who cared that we'd had to wait a little longer for Harry Kane to score the extra-time winner from a rebound after his spot-kick was saved.

"We were used to Englishmen missing penalties at the sharp end of semi-finals but this time it didn't matter a jot."

The view from Rome: Brexit? No, Kane!

Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol in Rome:

"Everyone over here is looking forward to this final. If I'm honest, I'd have to say that the Italians would have preferred to be playing Denmark than England as maybe it would have been an easier game.

"I have been looking at the Italian papers, and the headline on La Gazzetta dello Sport reads: 'Let's take the crown'. The Italians are quite confident that they came come to Wembley and win the Euros.

"In Corriere dello Sport, England are not the main headline. They lead with the one and only Mr Jose Mourinho - 'Introducing Mou' reads the front page. His first news conference as Roma manager will be beamed live across 50 different countries.

"But it does have a section on England getting to the final 'with a little help from the referee'. It goes on to say that the penalty award for the foul on Raheem Sterling was very 'generous'.

"And finally, TuttoSport has got a headline that I've got to admit I don't really understand what it's about - 'Brexit? No, Kane!' The Italians are masters of tournament football, and they feel they will find a way of beating England on Sunday night."

Was it a penalty for foul on Sterling?

Sky Sports' Roy Keane on ITV:

"I don't think it's a penalty. It's unlikely when it went to VAR that they would say it was a clear and obvious mistake. But Sterling got stronger and stronger as the game went on, and when you've got people who can go past players it just opens the game. But the penalty was very soft."

England captain Harry Kane speaking to ITV:

"The best one-two I've ever played? Damn right it is! Obviously, it wasn't the penalty I wanted to execute, it went lower than I thought, but it was a bonus that it popped back, and I could put it home."

England manager Gareth Southgate speaking to ITV:

"I haven't seen the penalty again, but I thought Raheem Sterling was a thorn in their side all night. Frankly there is nobody you would rather have on a penalty than Harry Kane, but he was up against a great goalkeeper. Thankfully that is now immaterial."

How the fans reacted...

... and how social media reacted

Podcast: It's nearly home... How the 'new England' could go all the way

Drink it in... England are in a major tournament final for the first time since 1966 after their extra-time win over Denmark at Wembley in semi-final of Euro 2020.

Kate Burlaga is joined by Rob Dorsett, Pete Smith and Nick Wright to discuss an historic night, and whether this 'new England' side can go all the way against Italy on Sunday.

Listen and subscribe on your podcast provider

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