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Harry Kane propelled England to just their second major tournament final as Gareth Southgate\u2019s men secured an extra-time penalty win against Denmark to set-up Sunday\u2019s match against Italy.<\/p>\nHarry Kane propelled England to just their second major tournament final as Gareth Southgate\u2019s men secured an extra-time penalty win against Denmark to set-up Sunday\u2019s match against Italy.<\/p>\n
Italy lie in wait after a tense, pulsating semi-final under the arch on Wednesday night, when Simon Kjaer\u2019s own goal cancelled out a superb Mikkel Damsgaard free-kick before Kane sealed a 2-1 extra-time win after his penalty was saved.<\/p>\n
England made a start as electric as the atmosphere at Wembley, but Damsgaard\u2019s stunning 25-yard free-kick silenced the home support as the 21-year-old continued to shine in place of the sadly absent Christian Eriksen.<\/p>\n
It was the first goal England had conceded during an unusually straightforward summer, but they responded well to the setback and Kjaer turned 19-year-old Bukayo Saka\u2019s cross into his own goal under pressure from Raheem Sterling.<\/p>\n
Kasper Schmeichel had superbly denied the latter moments earlier and the goalkeeper shone throughout a second half in which the video assistant referee cleared a Christian Norgaard challenge on Kane in the box.<\/p>\n
The Denmark goalkeeper continued to impress in extra-time but could not stop England progressing to the final, with Kane slotting home after the Leicester man saved his initial spot-kick after Sterling was judged to have been fouled.<\/p>\n
Denmark grew into proceedings, with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg seeing a shot saved and Jordan Pickford surviving a lackadaisical moment.<\/p>\n
Kasper Hjulmand\u2019s well-drilled side continued to push as Damsgaard bent wide, with Pickford entering England\u2019s record books by breaking World Cup winner Gordon Banks\u2019 long-standing 720-minute record without conceding. He only managed to extend it to 726 minutes.<\/p>\n
Luke Shaw fouled Andreas Christensen when a free-kick came over, giving Denmark another chance from a better position.<\/p>\n
Damsgaard stood over it and unleashed a thumping 25-yard strike that beat Pickford, sending Denmark\u2019s red wall into raptures in the 30th minute.<\/p>\n
England did eventually settle back into a rhythm and Schmeichel spread himself well to stop Sterling turning home a Kane cross from close range.<\/p>\n
It was a missed opportunity that the forward helped atone for in the 39th minute.<\/p>\n
Saka kept his cool and drove over a cross from the right that Kjaer turned into his own goal under pressure from Sterling.<\/p>\n
Harry Maguire saw a goalbound header superbly denied one-handed by Schmeichel in a second half that England were controlling as Denmark began to retreat deeper.<\/p>\n
Southgate turned to fan favorite Jack Grealish to change the dynamics and the VAR decided against awarding a penalty after reviewing a clumsy Norgaard challenge on Kane.<\/p>\n
England continued to push right into stoppage-time, when Maguire saw another header saved by Schmeichel and Kane\u2019s point-blank effort was blocked by Kjaer.<\/p>\n
Grealish stung the palms as the onslaught continued, with fleet-footed Sterling creating havoc for the tiring Danish defenders.<\/p>\n
Joakim Maehle was adjudged to have ended Sterling\u2019s mazy run and Makkelie pointed to the spot. There was another ball on the pitch during a phase of play that the VAR reviewed, but the decision stood.<\/p>\n
Kane stepped up and Schmeichel saved, only for the ball to land kindly for him six yards out to turn home and spark bedlam in the stands.<\/p>\n
Denmark tried desperately to level in the second period but a Martin Braithwaite shot was the biggest threat they managed, with Sterling denied by Schmeichel before the final whistle sent the 60,000-plus crowd wild.<\/p>\n
\u2018Sweet Caroline\u2019 echoed around the ground as England celebrated reaching their first European Championship final.<\/p>\n