Spainvs.England

Many a demon must be exorcised for the Three Lions on July 14, as Southgate's troops possess the worst kind of memories from their Euro 2020 showpiece against Italy, whose prowess from the penalty spot allowed them to hoist the Henri Delaunay Trophy aloft.

Three years down the line, England's women's and Under-21 men's teams have both been crowned queens and kings of Europe, while the former have also lost a World Cup final to Spain, giving the Three Lions yet another incentive for revenge against La Roja.

Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how England reached their second successive European Championship men's final.

Group Stage: Winners

On the back of topping their preliminary section - which also housed soon-to-be dethroned holders Italy and many people's dark horses Ukraine - England were not anticipated to face many roadblocks in Euro 2024 Group C against Serbia, Slovenia and Denmark.

Southgate's crop commenced their bid for German supremacy against the former on June 16, where they started as they meant to go on through a fine Jude Bellingham header from Bukayo Saka's deflected cross.

The 77 minutes that followed Bellingham's opener were nothing to write home about, though, as England were oh so close to allowing Serbia to claw their way back into the tie, albeit while coming agonisingly close to doubling their tally through a Harry Kane, whose header was incredibly pushed onto the bar by Predrag Rajkovic.

While England were ultimately not punished for sitting back with a 1-0 lead against the Eagles, their luck was not in when they tackled Denmark in their second Group C battle, where victory could have seen them wrap up top spot with a game to spare.

Kane's first goal of the tournament set England on their way, but the in-demand Morten Hjulmand added a few more pounds to his value with a 25-yard rocket to equalise, and many felt that even a point was undeserved for the Three Lions after a lackadaisical display.

The shoddy Frankfurt turf did not help matters for Southgate's side, who were still sitting pretty in first place by the time they concluded Group C against Slovenia, who celebrated that goalless stalemate as if they had won the game after securing the point that sent them through as one of the best third-placed sides.

Meanwhile, Southgate's side had done their job; through as group winners - ensuring a kinder knockout draw - and going unbeaten in the process. However, with only two goals under their belts, the jaded-looking Three Lions played their part in the joint-lowest scoring Euros group in history, and pessimism soon began to set in.

Last 16: England 2-1 Slovakia (a.e.t)

The Euro 2020 runners-up could have found themselves facing any of Slovakia, Ukraine, Belgium or Romania in their opening knockout battle, but it was the former nation who accepted second place in a Group D where nothing could separate any of the teams in the points column, which remarkably read four each.

Slavia Prague attacker Ivan Schranz had already made his mark in the group stage with a pair of strikes, and the Slovakia man carried that momentum forward into the last 16, surging through an England defence at sixes and sevens and slotting home past a helpless Jordan Pickford.

The Three Lions' desperate attempts to force extra time would surely prove futile - or so it seemed - as with five minutes of injury time on the clock, Bellingham played the role of national team saviour with an astounding acrobatic kick that left Martin Dubravka rooted to the spot.

Galvanised by the Real Madrid star's moment of magic, England needed a mere 52 seconds to turn the tide in extra time, where substitute Ivan Toney set up the hitherto anonymous Kane to crush Slovakian dreams and send England into their fourth straight major tournament quarter-final under Southgate.

Quarter-finals: England 1-1 Switzerland (a.e.t, 5-3 pens)

Pitting their wits against the team to conquer reigning champions Italy in the last 16, a few did not give England any hope of trumping Murat Yakin's eye-catching Switzerland side, who had also gone through the tournament unbeaten while almost earning a shock scalp over Germany in the group stage.

Some saw slight signs of improvement from Southgate's side - who by this point had 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo running the show in midfield - but another first half went by without England finding the back of the net, leading to that familiar feeling of doom and gloom.

The Three Lions had just 15 minutes to save their Euros bacon after Breel Embolo tapped home Switzerland's opener at the back stick, but after Bellingham's heroic contribution in the last 16, up stepped Saka, who cut inside from the left, was allowed to let fly and punished the Rossocrociati with a long-range scorcher, which kissed the inside of the post on its way in.

After surviving a huge Xherdan Shaqiri scare in added time - the ex-Liverpool man swung in a corner which almost crept underneath Pickford's crossbar - England's Euros destiny would be decided by penalties once again, but Manuel Akanji's opening miss for the Swiss left them with a Dusseldorf mountain to climb.

Gone are the days when England supporters dread a 12-yard shootout, as even with Kane off the pitch after clattering into Southgate, Saka, Cole Palmer, Toney, Bellingham and Trent Alexander-Arnold propelled the Three Lions into the last four after just their second perfect penalty shootout in major tournaments.

Semi-finals: Netherlands 1-2 England

A jaunt to Dortmund awaited England and the Netherlands for the second Euro 2024 semi-final, which came 24 hours after Spain had already punched their ticket to the Olympiastadion, and many wondered whether Wednesday would be the day where Southgate's men finally turned up.

Oranje protege Xavi Simons tried to put paid to that idea just seven minutes in, catching Declan Rice unawares before rifling in a 20-yard finish into the top corner, but for perhaps the first time in the tournament, England looked threatening as an attacking unit in the aftermath.

The Three Lions were rewarded for their strong response - albeit in controversial fashion - as Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have unfairly kicked Kane inside the area by Felix Zwayer following an on-field review, allowing the Bayern Munich man to restore parity from the spot.

Dumfries soon redeemed himself by stopping a Phil Foden toe-poke on the line, and after Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman brought on an extra midfielder in Joey Veerman for injured attacker Memphis Depay, England's chances began to dry up.

The Dutch looked the more likely to nab the all-important second goal following the break, but as the clock ticked over to 90 minutes, super subs Palmer and Ollie Watkins combined for the latter to enjoy his moment in the spotlight.

Unfazed by the attention of Stefan de Vrij and the angle working against him, Watkins picked his spot and found the far side of the net with aplomb, completing a third successive comeback win for England and earning his nation another date with Euros destiny.

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