'England has given supporters best nights in 50 years'

Gareth Southgate says England person "given supporters immoderate of nan champion nights successful 50 years" aft booking their spot successful a successive European Championship final.

A melodramatic 90th-minute victor from substitute Ollie Watkins sealed a 2-1 triumph complete nan Netherlands arsenic England came from down to group up a last pinch Spain.

Southgate led England to their first last successful 55 years erstwhile they mislaid to Italy successful Euro 2020, but they dream to spell 1 amended this clip around.

"I took nan occupation to effort to amended English shot and we're now successful a 2nd final. The past 1 was nan first successful complete 50 years. We're now successful a first 1 oversees," said Southgate.

"We're giving group astonishing nights. We've fixed our supporters immoderate of nan champion nights successful nan past 50 years. I'm hugely proud of that.

"I'm delighted if everyone astatine location is emotion nan measurement we are and nan measurement those successful nan stadium were. But we're not finished.

"We've sewage nan top imaginable trial to hole for. We came present to effort to triumph nan tourney and that's still our aim."

It has not been a soft thrust for England, who are nan first broadside successful Euros history to scope nan last contempt trailing successful some their quarter-final and semi-final games.

Jude Bellingham's bicycle footwear successful nan 95th infinitesimal saw them edge past Slovakia successful nan past 16, and they needed a penalty shootout to hit Switzerland.

Criticism has travel their measurement pinch fans displaying their frustration, throwing integrative cups aimed astatine Southgate aft their 0-0 tie pinch Slovenia successful nan group stages.

"We each want to beryllium loved, right? When you're doing thing for your country, you're a proud Englishman - you don't consciousness that backmost and each you publication is criticism, it's hard," said Southgate.

"To beryllium capable to observe a 2nd last is very special. If I had not been connected nan grass, I would person been watching and celebrating for illustration [the fans] were.

"I'm nan 1 that has to prime a squad truthful to beryllium capable to springiness them a nighttime for illustration coming was very special.

"We person travel present to triumph and play nan squad who person been nan champion successful nan tourney [in nan final]. But we're still present and fighting."

Having suffered conclusion against Italy astatine Wembley 3 years ago, England are wished not to travel distant quiet handed this time.

Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham told BBC Radio 5 Live that nan squad person "lived to conflict different day" arsenic they effort to go nan first English men's broadside since 1966 to triumph a awesome trophy.

"I americium really proud of nan boys. The reaction, cognition and mentality... Quality is 1 thing, but those characteristics you cannot study successful training - you get it from acquisition and each other," he added.

"Now it is 1 much game. We are tired, it has been a agelong season, but is 1 past push for our state and for history."

Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 19, has impressed successful nan knockout stages and became England's youngest subordinate to look successful nan semi-finals of a awesome tournament.

"It is an indescribable feeling, we are each buzzing! It has been specified a travel and we person built connected aged performances," Mainoo told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"The only measurement is up - clip to put america successful history."

It was a rollercoaster evening successful Dortmund arsenic nan Netherlands took nan lead early connected done Xavi Simons' thunderous strike.

England responded erstwhile Harry Kane put distant a contentious punishment and they dominated ample periods earlier Watkins provided nan winning infinitesimal precocious on.

"I consciousness drained and for illustration I person been retired location myself. It is simply a awesome night," erstwhile England striker Alan Shearer said.

"At times you person to suffer successful world football. When it sewage tough, they had to travel up pinch different answers and they had to find a measurement again.

"This squad has done that without playing spectacular shot successful 4 aliases 5 of nan games. Now they person an unthinkable chance of winning it."

Former England defender Gary Neville said this squad does "whatever it takes" to triumph games and are improving standards.

So is location a emotion that England could upset tourney favourites Spain successful nan final?

"It feels for illustration it is going to beryllium nan time. At each infinitesimal they person been doubted and it is simply a awesome communicative up until this point, why shouldn't it spell on?" said erstwhile England defender Matthew Upson.

"One of nan large things astir this group is that they person a spot of cockiness and arrogance astir them - but successful a bully way.

"We person players exceeding immense levels of performances successful apical teams crossed nan world. We are assured and it shows pinch nan penalties and successful moments for illustration this."