Image source, Getty Images
- Author, Bob Dale
- Role, BBC News, South East
Football fans across Surrey have been celebrating England’s semi-final win over the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
The national team beat the Dutch 2-1 in Dortmund thanks to a last-minute goal by Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
Both Watkins and Cole Palmer, who provided the pass for the winner, were late substitutions by manager Gareth Southgate. England will face Spain in the final on Sunday.
Angela Walters, head of girls football at Beacon Hill FC, near Hindhead, told BBC Radio Surrey: “It’s going to be a tough match, but we’ve got this far.”
She said reaching the final had probably come as a surprise, so anything was possible.
“After the first few matches in the rounds, did we really think we were going to get this far? Probably not,” she said.
“We could possibly do it on Sunday and that would be amazing, because both the women’s and men’s teams would be European champions at the same time.”
Image source, Getty Images
Tommy Widdrington, manager of Aldershot Town Football Club, said: “Gareth’s stuck to his guns.
“It’s shown the character of him and the group because that was near enough the team that started the first few games, which was pilloried by the media.
“To me, they embody what a squad’s all about. “
He said: “He played against lots of players that I know and I think it was an amazing moment for Ollie.
“This England team, I believe, will win the Euros.
“With their tails up in a one-off match, it’s a game they could win comfortably.”