From the early moments it was pretty obvious that there would be plenty of attacking in this match, and chances would be there for the taking.  It was a much more open game than some of the earlier ones in this tournament, and England began well, closing down at every opportunity and in the fourth minute Phil Foden came within a whisker of blocking goalkeeper, Burt Verbruggen's clearance.  If he had connected then it would have been a goal!  As it was Holland then broke well but when the final through ball came Jordan Pickford was out quickly to gather.

Both sides were probing the other's defences and after just seven minutes the Dutch took the lead with a fine goal.  Declan Rice was caught in possession by Xavi Simons, and the number seven strode forward unchallenged and unleashed a fierce drive into the far top corner of England's net, with Pickford helpless.  Not exactly the start England wanted.  But they regrouped and were soon on the attack again.

Bukayo Saka was fouled and although the free-kick found Rice, the defenders crowded England out.  England continued to press and Harry Kane tried his luck from 20 yards, but Verbruggen dived full length and palmed the ball away to safety.  Then, in the 17th minute, Saka, who gave the Dutch defence problems for the whole of this half, wriggled his way across the penalty area and although his shot was blocked the ball ran to Kane who under a strong challenge from Denzel Dumfries (who surely should be playing for Scotland?), volleyed a shot just over the bar.  For a few seconds we thought that was it, but no, dear old VAR was called in and after the referee had consulted the screen he gave England a penalty.  Now that was very harsh against Dumfries and the Dutch, but come on, we have been on the wrong end of many a doubtful decision over the years, so we take it and move on.  Kane was not about to turn down this chance that's for sure, and he duly despatched the penalty right into the bottom corner.  Parity again.

On 23 minutes Foden is so close to scoring as he wriggles through the Dutch defence as Kobbie Mainoo feeds him a delicious pass, and then beats the goalkeeper only for Dumfries to redeem himself with a goalline clearance,  Just millimetres from a goal, and this sustained spell of pressure is enhanced by good breaks from Foden and Jude Bellingham.  However, the Dutch were still dangerous and only a desperate late tackle by the impressive Kyle Walker kept Donyell Malen at bay as they broke quickly.

A worrying aspect of England's defending is their susceptibility to not being able to clear corners, and from one Dutch corner Dumfries leapt high to power a header against the top of the crossbar.  On 32 minutes Foden produced what could have been the 'moment', but his brilliant left-foot curling shot scraped the outside of the left-hand post with Verbruggen groping.  That came at the end of some more sustained pressure from England.  Mainoo, who was playing really well, then tried to find Kane but the ball is blocked.  Going forward England look good, but defensively, not so good.  The same could be said of the Dutch.  With Bellingham still not firing on all cylinders England leave gaps at the back, but they were still on top.

On 39 minutes Saka and Mainoo combined to set up another chance for Foden, but this time his low shot is saved at full stretch by Verbruggen.  Then Mainoo makes a great interception but his effort is charged down by the increasingly busy Dutch defenders.  The final pass and touch was just not quite there for England, despite their dominance.  The lively half came to an end with the scores still level, but a good half from England.  After the break Gareth Southgate sent on Luke Shaw again for Kieran Trippier, who although working hard and getting into some good positions, his final passes from the wing needed improvement.  Early in the half, Saka beat his man and pulled back a low cross which was begging to be thumped home.  Alas, there was no England player in the box to take advantage.

A period of anxious play on both sides slowed the game right down.  Holland obviously had changed their tactics and England did not have the space that they had in the first-half.  The Dutch were now closing down quicker and the danger from Foden and Saka is not as noticeable.  In the 65th minute a free-kick from Nathan Ake is met by Virgil Van Dyke and Pickford had to make a fine save from the Liverpool man's close range shot.  If truth be told, the Dutch were now dictating play a little more and England were rather static, back to playing walking football again!

Cody Gakpo created another great chance for Holland but this time Xavi Simons mis-hits his shot, when he looked odds on to score.  By way of relief England then went down the other end and Walker's long cross found Shaw, whose first-time cross was tapped into the net by Saka.  The cheers subsided quickly though as the linesman's flag went up against Walker for offside.  With a quarter of an hour left it was very tense out there, and one could feel the appeals coming from all the England fans for Southgate to make changes, bring on some subs seemed to be the consensus of opinion. To be honest I think it is fair to say that everyone expected Ivan Toney to come on, but in the 80th minute the Boss brought on two players, Cole Palmer and, surprise, surprise, Ollie Watkins, who had hardly had any game time so far.

The next decisive moment in the match, on 90+1 minutes, was to feature both of those Southgate changes.  Palmer picked up possession, and threaded a through ball to Watkins who was quite wide on the right of the box.  The Aston Villa player did not hesitate, and spun his marker and fired in a brilliant shot right into the far side of the goal.  The Dutch fans and players sank to their knees, the England fans and players were jumping for joy.  Would you believe it, in the 91st minute England had taken the lead.  The three extra minutes turned into six, but who cares, the referee, who had a good match by the way, blew his final whistle and now it was England sinking to their knees.  Toney?  Who needs him!  Just shows you how much any of us know about this game of football.  Southgate had produced a masterstroke, and Watkins will remember his moment for the rest of his life.

It had certainly been a roller coaster ride but, incredibly, we are now in the final, with a match against Spain on the following Sunday. 
A chance for more golden memories.  We shall see.
   

Source Notes