After an injury time goal from Ollie Watkins, England beat the Netherlands in yesterday’s semi-final and will now play their second consecutive final in the Euros.

While in 2021, they lost against Italy in a penalty shootout, Gareth Southgate now wants to finally bring a trophy home for the first time since 1966. The English have never won the Euros before and have only ever reached a Euros men's final for the first time in 2021.

WE HAVE DONE IT 🤩

The #ThreeLions have reached the EURO final for a second time in a row… and in our history! pic.twitter.com/PrennWwZZF

— England (@England) July 10, 2024

Throughout the whole tournament so far, Southgate’s group has been criticized by English fans and experts but also international media cannot understand how a team with that high value, plays such disappointing football.

Southgate was rightfully criticized for starting the wrong people and leaving youngsters like Cole Palmer, who has played an amazing season for Chelsea, on the bench until late in the game.

It seemed like the English players all have the qualities but they cannot play together as a team, it is almost like everyone is playing for themselves.

This changed yesterday. England impressed with their style of playing and for the first time this tournament, they deservedly won a match and played high quality football, especially in the first half.

This is the first time the #ThreeLions have reached a major tournament final on foreign soil.

History made, but we want more. pic.twitter.com/NrNkjwoKnv

— England (@England) July 11, 2024

If they want to beat Spain on Sunday, they will have to keep up last night’s performance and continue with the changes Southgate has made, which we will have a closer look at.

England's Team Dynamic

Starting with a very obvious one, England did not seem like the team we have been watching over the past weeks. It finally looked like they were using their individual talent to play together, not on their own.

About last night. 🤩

🧵 A thread. pic.twitter.com/WB7WXyGJhT

— England (@England) July 11, 2024

In the starting XI, the only change that Southgate made was playing Marc Guehi for Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa, which made sense as Guehi had a yellow-card suspension during the Switzerland match. Konsa therefore only replaced him for one match and it was decent, but the speed and football knowledge Guehi brings into the English defence is outstanding.

The English side played an extremely dominant first half with 63% possession and seven shots. In comparison, the Dutch only had three shots but the efficiency was there as their first shot on target turned into a dream goal from Xavi Simons in the 7th minute.

XAVI SIMONS DOES IT ALL BY HIMSELF TO PUT NETHERLANDS IN FRONT OVER ENGLAND EARLY! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/RnRbJi4c2l

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 10, 2024

Instead of taking the defeat, England played impressive football and together created many chances, the only issue seemed to be their efficiency up front although it is important to say that the Dutch defence did not make it easy to get through.

England got lucky with a penalty in the 18th minute and it is debatable whether it actually was one or not, but nonetheless they deserved to score. With the chances they created, it could have realistically been 3-1 at half time.

While we do not see what Southgate said to his talented squad, he needs to continue with whatever he has done to make this team play together. This is the most crucial skill that needs to be kept upright if they want to stand a chance of beating a strong Spanish team.

The second half was still decent but did remind us more of Southgate’s old tactics: Play defensive, late subs and a late goal - and it worked again.

Ollie Watkins makes the difference

81st minute. Ollie Watkins comes on for Harry Kane. 91st minute. Watkins scores the winner for England.

It is his first major international tournament for England, and considering he already is 28 years of age, it is fair to say that he took his time.

He played a friendly for England in 2021 but did not end up playing for the team during the Euros or the Qatar World Cup. In this tournament, he got subbed on once in the group stage during their 1-1 draw against Denmark.

Ollie Watkins: "I never thought I'd play at a EURO with England." 🥹#EURO2024 | #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/WDE0wWZ27K

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 10, 2024

While he did not play a big role in that game, he played an even bigger one yesterday against the Netherlands. To find the courage to play a ball that precise into the left corner from a sharp angle at the end of the match in your first ever Euros is admirable.

Chelsea’s Palmer is the one who made the goal possible with a perfect assist and has once again proven that it would be worth starting him in the future.

Cole Palmer came on for 10 minutes against the Netherlands and picked up his first assist of the tournament. Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham have yet to register a single assist throughout the tournament. pic.twitter.com/Rma8XurlH0

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 10, 2024

Watkin’s goal was incredible but for now, Southgate will most likely keep him on the bench and, of course, start captain Kane instead and he will probably continue to do the same with Palmer.

Although fans want him to start, Southgate always finds a way to get through to the next round so there really is no point for him to change a working system, even if it seems questionable at times.

Is it ACTUALLY coming home?

While it would be nice to just say yes to the question and believe, the Spanish team have won all of their six games and are probably the most fearful opponent England could have faced.

Spain 🆚 England

Berlin. Sunday.#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/f1NqmQfOpO

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 10, 2024

Both teams have had their struggles at times and got lucky before with a non-given penalty for Germany during their Spain match and England with a lucky given penalty in their Netherlands match but overall Spain looks like the better team.

If England manage to take control of the game and play the same football for two halves that they played against the Dutch for once they will, nonetheless, have a chance of winning their first Euros.

Since the knockout stages began, many critics have said that England would get knocked out against Slovakia, Switzerland and, of course, the Netherlands - but they never did. While Southgate's tactics can be questioned, it is impressive how the team always finds a way through.

Spain’s run in to the final vs England’s run in to the final… pic.twitter.com/XAfnZbpxoC

— Neal 🇦🇺 (@NealGardner_) July 10, 2024

Late winners or equalizers have saved England in this tournament so far and this is something they can shock Spain with as well.

Spain usually score and then sit back and defend. They have done so against Germany, which was arguably their hardest opponent to beat, and they have received at least a little bit of a setback in that game, when Florian Wirtz scored a late equalizer.

These are the exact weaknesses that England specifically need to aim for in order to win the final and if they manage to keep up their performance and irritate the Spanish side, Sunday night... football might have finally come home again.