England Vs Netherlands Em

England reach Euro 2024 final after late Ollie Watkins winner

Southgate's bold decision pays off as England secure dramatic victory

Watkins' last-gasp strike sends Three Lions through to Sunday's final against Spain

Ollie Watkins' brilliant last-gasp winner earned England a 2-1 win over the Netherlands and a place in Sunday's Euro 2024 final.

Gareth Southgate's side looked to be heading for a disappointing exit from the tournament after Cody Gakpo had given the Dutch a first-half lead.

But Southgate's decision to bring on Watkins proved to be a masterstroke as the Aston Villa striker fired home a stunning winner in the dying seconds of the game.

The victory sets up a mouth-watering final against Spain, who beat Italy in the other semi-final.

Southgate said after the game that he was "delighted" with the win and praised his players for their "character and resilience".

"We showed great character to come back from behind and win the game," he said.

Southgate admitted that he had taken a gamble by bringing on Watkins, but said that he had been confident that the striker could make a difference. "I thought Ollie could give us something different," he said. "He's a great goalscorer and he's always dangerous in the box." Watkins said that he was "over the moon" to have scored the winning goal. "It's a dream come true to score in a major tournament and to help England reach the final," he said.

"I'm just glad that I could make a difference tonight."