England showed character but hungry for more, says Southgate after reaching final
England’s last-gasp victory over Netherlands in its Euro 2024 semifinal showed its character and resilience and the team is ready to take the final step and lift its first major trophy in almost 60 years, manager Gareth Southgate said.
Substitute Ollie Watkins scored in the 91st minute to send England through to its second successive European Championship final with a 2-1 win.
Its overall performance was an emphatic answer to the criticism heaped on his side for some earlier languid showings.
“We all want to be loved, right?” Southgate told a press conference. “When you are doing something for your country and you are a proud Englishman, when all you read is criticism it is hard. To be able to celebrate a second final is very, very special.”