'WE HAVE AS GOOD A CHANCE AS SPAIN'

Southgate admits that final rivals are the best team, but England want to be loved’

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England finally showed their true colours at the European Championship on July 10, putting on a convincing and effective performance when it mattered most to book themselves a final berth in Berlin on July 14.

Ollie Watkins' late winner to secure the 2-1 win over the Netherlands was as much as they deserved, after dominating the encounter in a display their supporters had been eagerly awaiting but barely daring to hope for.

Xavi Simons had opened the scoring at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund on seven minutes, before Harry Kane netted a controversial penalty 11 minutes later after he was fouled by Denzel Dumfries.

The result was an emphatic answer after the criticism heaped on the Three Lions for some languid showings against underwhelming opposition earlier in the tournament, and sets up a mouth-watering final against a slick-looking Spain.

"We all want to be loved, right?" said manager Gareth Southgate.

"When you are doing something for your country and you are a proud Englishman, when all you read is criticism, it is hard.