By Jermaine Owusu Boateng- July 8, 2021
Harry Kane converted the rebound after his initial penalty was saved in the 104th minute to give England a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Denmark in extra time in the European Championship semifinals on Wednesday night at Wembley Stadium.
Mikel Damsgaard’s wonder free-kick in the 30th minute had given Denmark a deserving lead but an own goal from defender Simon Kjaer put the lions level before the break.
Chances came and went for England as the game approached the 90-minute mark, with the possibility of extra-time and potential penalty kicks.
Raheem Sterling, was brought down in the box by Joakim Maehle – giving Kane the chance to send England to the final.
Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel guessed the right way to block Kane’s penalty, but the England captain reacted quickly and put the ball into the net from six yards out.
Denmark’s players, whose emotionally charged run to the semifinals was powered by a resolve to win the title for Christian Erisken after his collapse on the field during the group stage, were almost on their knees by that point.
And Danish hopes of an equalizer were damaged by having to play with only 10 men for the second half of extra time after Jensen was forced off injured. Denmark had already used up its six substitutes by then.
England will return to its national soccer stadium on Sunday to play Italy and will be competing in its first final since the 1966 World Cup. That remains England’s only international title.
