Kieran Trippier and Anthony Gordon extend their stay in Germany as England head to the Euro 2024 final

England, who started Euro 2024 as one of the tournament favourites have made hard work of it and frustrated fans in every game have gone and made it to the final of the tournament.

Every game had been a total slog to watch until tonight's semi-final clash with the Netherlands.

It was still a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde performance as England went down to a 7th minute stunner from Newcastle target Xavi Simons who seemed to take a leaf out of Fabian Schar's book by bending in a goal from distance while falling over.

England were awarded a very fortunate penalty a few minutes later which was put away by Harry Kane and from then on until half time it looked like a matter of time before England would take the lead.

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Kieran Trippier only got 45 minutes and there was still no sign of Anthony Gordon

Newcastle's Kieran Trippier was hooked at half time as Southgate put Luke Shaw on at left wing-back. Trippier had looked a bit off the pace again at times but mostly it was his lack of a left foot that was the biggest issue.

The second half was a dull affair for the most part as both sides looked scared to go for the win and cancelling each other out.

There were cries for more changes from fans and the ITV commentary team, and while Gareth Southgate left it later than most would have liked, it was ultimately his substitutions that won the game.

England will face Spain on Sunday in the Euro 2024 final

Cole Palmer added a bit more attacking urgency and he linked up with fellow substitute Ollie Watkins who replaced Harry Kane, and it was the Aston Villa man who made all the difference squeezing the ball home on 90 minutes and leaving England with just a couple of minutes to hang on to the lead after the game had looked destined for extra time.

England will now face Spain on Sunday in the final. If Southgate has taken anything from today's game it should be that his side are more than capable of playing attacking football.

If he wants to take two things away from this one it's that Harry Kane should be nowhere near the starting XI. England look infinitely more dangerous with a striker on the pitch who can run, who stays up for the attack and who presses from the front. It's time to admit he's past it, or at least needs a partner up top to play off of. Saying that, he is still the tournament's joint top scorer.