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England recovered from a goal down and staved off a determined challenge from Denmark to book their place in the Euro 2020 final. They will face Italy in the summit clash.
Mikkel Damsgaard's fabulous 30th-minute free-kick silenced a partisan crowd at the Wembley Stadium. But England were back on level terms nine minutes later when Simon Kjaer put one into his own net.
The Three Lions dominated proceedings but failed to break down a resolute Denmark rearguard as the game went into extra time. England then went ahead for the first time in the match when Harry Kane guided his saved penalty into an unguarded net. The spot-kick had been awarded after Raheem Sterling bamboozled the Danish defense with a typically mazy run.
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Denmark threw the proverbial kitchen sink at England in the dying embers of the game. But an equalizer was not to be, as Gareth Southgate's men combined stout defending and superb game management to hold on to their win. England now meet Italy in a blockbuster final on Sunday to bring the curtains down on a fabulous Euro 2020 tournament.
On that note, let's have a look at five interesting stats from England's semi-final win over Denmark:
#5 Mikel Damsgaard scores the first direct free-kick goal of Euro 2020
Denmark have risen like the proverbial phoenix at Euro 2020. After seeing their star midfielder Christian Eriksen collapse in their tournament opener and losing to Belgium on Matchday 2, the Danes recovered to thump Russia on Matchday 3. The win helped them qualify for the quarterfinals. Denm became the first team in European Championship history to reach the knockout round after losing their first two games.
Buoyed by that performance, Denmark knocked out Wales and the Czech Republic to reach their first European Championship semi-final since their triumphant campaign in 1992.
Kasper Hjulmand's men took the game to England at Wembley and opened the scoring when Mikkel Damsgaard curled a fabulous free-kick beyond a diving Jordan Pickford. That marked the first direct free-kick goal at Euro 2020.
However, Denmark's lead was short-lived as England equalized nine minutes later and scored again in extra time to qualify for the final.
#4 England benefit from an own goal for the first time in European Championship history
Unfazed by the occasion, Denmark matched England stride-for-stride in the game's opening exchanges.
The 1992 champions drew first blood at the half-hour mark when Damsgaard bulged the English net with a fabulous free-kick. However, England upped the ante and hit back when Simon Kjaer netted past his own keeper.
That marked a record-extending 11th own goal at Euro 2020 and the first time England have benefitted from an own goal in European Championship history.
It marked only the third own goal scored for England at a major tournament, with the two previous occasions happening in the 1982 and 2006 FIFA World Cup against Czechoslovakia and Paraguay, respectively.
#3 Euro 2020 sees the most games going to extra time in European Championship history
The Denmark-England game meant both semi-final matches at Euro 2020 and seven overall during the tournament went to extra time, the most at a single edition of the European Championship.
Spain played three successive games featuring extra time at Euro 2020. The three-time winners beat Croatia 5-3 in the Round of 16 and saw off Switzerland in a penalty shootout in the quarter-finals. They then lost to Italy in the last four in another shootout.
Earlier, the Italy-Austria, France-Switzerland and Ukraine-Sweden games in the Round of 16 also went into extra time.
#2 Harry Kane becomes England's joint-highest goalscorer at major tournaments
After failing to score in the group stages, Harry Kane has burst into life in the knockout rounds.
The Tottenham Hotspur striker scored in the 2-0 win over old foes Germany to open his account at Euro 2020. Kane then registered a brace in England's emphatic 4-0 quarter-final win over Ukraine before scoring off a rebound against Denmark after Kasper Schmeichel had saved his penalty.
With his strike against Denmark, Kane has moved level with Garry Lineker (10) as the top goalscorer for England in major tournaments.
Previously, Kane had scored six times at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where England made a surprise run to the semi-finals. He had also won the Golden Boot for his efforts.
#1 England reach their first European Championship final
England lived up to their favorites tag by beating Denmark in the last four and booked a final date with another frontrunner, Italy.
The Three Lions, like the Azzurri, did not concede a goal in the group stage. England then registered successive shutouts against Germany and Ukraine. This meant they became the first team in European Championship history to open their campaign in a single edition with five successive clean sheets.
They couldn't maintain their clean sheet record against Denmark in the semi-finals, but England showed remarkable character, resilience and poise to enter their first ever European Championship final.
In the process, England reached their first final in a major competition since their triumphant campaign at the 1966 FIFA World Cup. England won the competition that year and it remains the Three Lions' only major title to date.
It remains to be seen if England's maiden foray into the European Championship final will see them pick up their first title in the competition.
