Were England lucky against the Netherlands? Semi-Final BREAKDOWN | ESPN FC

Gab Marcotti and Julien Laruens debate the penalty decision which ultimately cost the Netherlands a place in the European Championship final, as the pair review England’s mixed performance.
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[@-herebedragons-]

No penalty….total disgrace…worst team in the tournament.

[@njd2342]

Fee fye foe fun, I see the comment of a Welsh or Scotsman.

[@stnbch3025]

​​@@njd2342 I see a comment of a reality denier.

[@MarcusBoughen]

Cry more we love drinking your salty tears , England invented the game , glory fans like you need to be banned

[@MarcusBoughen]

Do you stalk England like a little fanboy lol

[@njd2342]

@@stnbch3025 Perhaps you are Irish?

[@atun77]

That referee is the clear man of the match!

[@MrKaravaj]

Well, still I dont think Netherlands were better in any way

[@Benarfa553]

​@@MrKaravaj2and half maybe they were, at least they had the better chances

[@z3ro7o]

@@MrKaravaj thats not the question. england where better 100% and i am dutch :D

[@Nairam10]

UEFA wanted a Spain VS England final. Both teams got lucky with their decisions...

[@forret]

@@z3ro7o I personally don’t like penalties which are unintentional. However the Dutch player hits Kane’s foot ‘studs up’. A free kick outside of the box. Tough luck but I think probably fair according to the rules?

[@FavreianVengeance]

I thought I saw a Saka handball in real time. I haven't looked at any replays.

[@DirectorLi]

Saka hand ball on both his hands

[@krisxchirbas9503]

@@FavreianVengeance at least you're honest. Most people here make the accusation of handball without understanding the rules. It hit his shoulder, and replays clearly demonstrate it. If you wanna talk about robberies tho, look no further than cucurellas handball.

[@furrycheetah]

Did his hand went forward or backward?

[@michaelpower4372]

​Or Walker sliding into a tackle studs up no card. Bellingham kicking the ball away when ref blew for a foul should be a card. But nothing from ref.🤔🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️​@@krisxchirbas9503

[@peterasplund5687]

Saka touched the ball,not just once but twice with both hands and therfore it should be a freekick to Holland ,Virgil raised his arm before Kane made his shot…it is what the replays showed on the swedish airing of the game…

[@peterkelder1451]

VAR did not look at Saka's handball moment half a second before Kane and Dumfries feet touched....shame!

[@kevinvanvianen5638]

They were handed a present by Uefa

[@jpslaym0936]

Of course, they have to consider all the wagers on EN they need to profit from

[@anthonyr587]

Makes a change. England have been fucked buy referees for years. Hang around and i'll write you a list of some of the most egregious ones starting in the 80s.

[@Solicitor1957]

Awful decision. England have been so lucky this tournament…..

[@Enzoblueblood]

Yeah, Ollie Watkins was lucky the defender opened his legs

[@BigWow-zr5hj]

yes they were

[@bushmonster1702]

well yes but also no.

[@jamesw5131]

They were comfortably the better team across the game and really deserved to win by more. Yeah it’s a soft penalty but they also had a goal cleared off the line, hit the post twice and had a goal disallowed for a pretty close offside, the Dutch scored after 7 mins and then basically did nothing for 85 mins other than a couple of half chances off set pieces. Hardly a lucky win

[@MKn-hw1pc]

"Ohhhh no they weren't" 😂

[@nadirchahboun379]

@@jamesw5131as a Dutch I agree we need to play beter But the referee was awful

[@tedbeale4738]

yes they were lucky to play in a match with a known match fixing ref

[@bhupendraparekh6225]

If that's a penalty then every game should have about 30 penalties as the norm.

[@kelvintan4809]

If that’s a penalty then the game is dead

[@imadbasayev8541]

Studs out, missing the ball and catching the foot is always a foul.

[@stnbch3025]

​​@@imadbasayev8541 You're delusional and s**,id. Delusional because it's a fact that Kane kicked Dumfries. This is not even debatable because it's totally delusional to do so. S**,id because you foul an opponent, missing the ball isn't fouling the opponent, just like studs out on itself isn't a foul nor when it's hardly directed at the opponent. The foul is non-existent, this was another example of the modern ref refereeing something imaginary out of sheer incompetence.

[@z3ro7o]

@@imadbasayev8541 he didn't go for any foot smarty? he tried to block the shot lol. and kane shot the ball out the stadion.

[@imadbasayev8541]

@@z3ro7o He missed the ball completely and only caught the foot. No one claimed it was intentional but going studs first and making contact is always a foul.

[@StefdeSjaak]

The game has been dead for a few years now sadly

[@leonboot9312]

Was definitely handsball so theres no discussion possible. Even without the hands its not a penslty.

[@tedbeale4738]

Exactly, but London is in charge of the American media apparently.

[@pahakuutti]

PGMOL is the most corrupt ref organisation in Europe, and thats saying a lot as Greece is located in Europe. It seems to me they have started buying refs in international competitions now.

[@theguyinthemiddle2919]

To be honest, they have been lucky the entire tournament but then again luck is part of football.

[@Darrenski]

Lucky how? Was bellingham's goal lucky? Was Watkins winner luck? Is it lucky to win after going behind. Where is the rule that says whoever scores first deserves to win? England were easily the better side. They've had no luck. They've only had one penalty. They've lost the last final on a penalty shootout and nobody was hating on Italy for being lucky, even after they did the same vs a better Spain. No, England is only ever allowed to have bad luck and terrible decisions against them.

[@fitzroygeorge6823]

True

[@DrQuatsch]

@@Darrenski As a Dutchman, Watkins goal was pure class. There was no luck in that finish. The luck was in the build-up to the goal. That was never a foul from Gakpo. Without that blatant mistake from the ref, this goal would never have been there. Anyway, England played well, so I can live with them going through. Good luck in the final against Spain. I feel you are going to need that.

[@noname-to1wd]

@@DrQuatsch like how a Declan Rice mistake left Simons with an opportunity to slide-kick a long hit and hope shot? You can view any situation with grievance if you try.

[@aliabdelaziz905]

Argentina has been lucky, playing Canada to get to the final lol

[@benjaminminnee2948]

The analysis of the game is really two dimensional and does not do justice to the Dutch at all. After the 1-0 England were clearly dominate. The Dutch left far too much room between attack and midfield and England exploited that space. When Depay went off, Koeman correctly replaced him with a midfielder. The English then found it far more difficult and no longer dominated from that point on. At the start of the second half with Weghorst on, that trend continued. The Dutch had the better of the second half although it wasn’t domination. Perhaps you shouldn’t explain everything as if it wasn’t England trying anymore.

[@AlejandroJavierHernandez-si4qz]

Its a combination of everything, at the end of the day, England was lucky AND showed a tiny bit more spirit, the score shows and when the goal landed. It was a 50/50 England dominated some parts and the Dutch did the same, but too late.

[@stephanw7770]

​Still gifted a goal with a penalty. Kane got shot off missed, got penalty which was no penalty. Handball twice in build up. Clearly England was heavily favored.

[@Zeep3]

It's crazy that the ESPM pundits are unaware that any form of an attacking handball, whether intentional or not, is a foul. The old man shows a clear bias in both the handball incident and the so-called foul by Dumfries. Thankfully the other guy correctly noted that Kane's foot hit Dumfries, not the other way around. The Netherlands played poorly and didn’t deserve to reach the final, but arguing that England wasn't fortunate is absurd. They undeniably benefited from several favorable and crucial decisions, including the one leading up to Watkins' goal.

[@mensahmbro7384]

Let it go guys...past is past Lets focus on the future of soccer and the finals

[@israeldiegoriveragenius2th164]

Never a penalty football clearly rigged, the Saka handball did lead to the shot, and it hit both hands. Gab used to watching rigged games in Italy.

[@Antidisestablishmentarianism99]

What happened in the second half is that Netherlands changed their tactics, packed the midfield and pretty much parked the bus. I don’t understand why these two ‘experts’ can’t understand that?

[@stevenrobertson8329]

Its obvious that more and more, the Authorities, UEFA and FIFA, are deciding which teams they want to reach major finals.

[@Joeeye123]

So UEFA scored Ollies goal for him?

[@stevenrobertson8329]

@@Joeeye123 No, but the ref gave a penalty that was disgraceful.

[@Joeeye123]

@@stevenrobertson8329 in your opinion, but it still had valid reasoning, hence the ref gave it.

[@stephanw7770]

​@@Joeeye123 was a corner the dutch attack before watkins goal, gave possesion to England obvious mistake . People defending the penalty are English or hate the Dutch national team for some reason. Do yes decisions matter.

[@Joeeye123]

@stephanw7770 Ollie making a shot isn't a mistake. You can debate the whole scenario of how he even got to get there, but the goal he produced is no mistake, nor has it anything to do with UEFA. The point you're only making now is just coming off as salty. It's funny because a lof of English fans and pundits are still hating on England despite this actually being a well deserved win, ironically. You obviously have an axe to grind and still go with this notion that English pundits keep disrespecting "your" team. What's even funnier is most English pundits I've heard said the penalty never should have stood, so I don't know which channels you tune in to. Personally, I didn't think it should have been, but it's a scenario where a claim can be made, not anything conspiratorial.

[@RossiCabanossi]

Lucky to see that juls knows football, there are just two options not try to block the shot or disappear like teleport himself away… Kane’s leg moved to the the defenders one, what’s next attackers running into defenders inside the box and it’s a penalty because the defender didn’t disappear? And I’m not English and not Dutch

[@imadbasayev8541]

Or block the shot with your body instead of sticking the studs out?

[@dahar54]

The game is called football not body ball.

[@Joeeye123]

I do believe it was soft, but the point remains, getting a player with your studs out, without making any contact with the ball is a foul, so I understand why the penalty was given.

[@imadbasayev8541]

@@dahar54 How do players block free kicks?

[@ToxicFrostbite]

How did it not immediately lead to shot? It deflected from Saka's hand straight to Kane who then ripped the shot

[@atikurrahman9304]

Shocking decision.

[@renwynmedina1057]

There was a handball on SAKA 10 seconds b4 the penalty How did VAR not see this

[@stephenmcculloch7192]

Gab has some sort of memory loss, he just waffles

[@TfortLo-q8m]

Look at the state of him, you think he cares about anything?

[@jpslaym0936]

Clinically its described as amyloid plaque neuronal accumulation.

[@archimedes2261]

Gab is one of the best analysts in Football for ESPN. You can have some lapes, but his analogies are always spot on 98% of the time.

[@pahakuutti]

Its true. The way he goes on a tangent, that spread in all directions like a mushroom, is indicative of dementia.

[@headpeace1018]

A ref on TalkSPORT said he'd not have given the penalty but would've given a foul if it happened on the half way line because giving a penalty has big consequences. That's not his job. A foul in the box is a penalty. The outcome of the game is not down to him.

[@sitthe5598]

It's all about the chain of events that some decisions like these kickstarted. It's just the underbelly feeling a player gets after decision after decision are taken against them. First off, no penatly because Saka made a hand ball as clear as day. That already points out the VAR and referee just seeked the advantage of England. Secondly, without a VAR this penalty would be never given, you can clearly see that dumfries did not make a hard tackle on Kane and Kane absolutly shouts it out like he is injured and the tournement ends. It's literally just a drama show and the referee was loving it. Second thing, before Ollie Watkins scored, Netherland had posession. Referee gives a goal kick instead of a corner. This set in the change of events even more and lead to Watkins getting the ball and scoring. You can clearly see the whole dutch squad was nowhere near their own goal. So these days referee's chose to control a game so much, it's gotten to a point where it's seems like the referee is just on payroll.

[@kevingeorge9727]

I'm delighted we won but if that's a penalty all hope is lost for defenders from now on. The game has truly 'gone'.

[@stephanw7770]

So true. We will get 37 vs 39 scorelines if this is a penalty about everything is.

[@00PimpstA00]

You will see that type of foul at left/right back most games and it is given as a foul. You slide in when the full back is trying to clear it and you know he/she will kick the sole of your boot and it smarts a little. The ref will always, absolutely always give a free kick and so why is it not ok when it is given as a penalty? That said, there was still 72 minutes of the match to play, and England still scored again so who is to say the result would not have been any different. The Dutch fans would be saying exactly those words I've typed above.

[@joelp9486]

Did the officials ever clarify why it was a penalty? The only issue seems to be that Dumfries came in studs up. If Dumfries' challenge was a penalty then Saka's assist was also a penalty. It may not have been on purpose, but it did affect the ball and it did lead to a goal. England supporters can't have it both ways.

[@ExecutorCR]

Generous penalty is such a classy way to say it... It was a shamefull penalty and we all see it.

[@josegallardo8334]

The Dutch defender went high up with studs out and missed and hit Kane. Just say you don’t know football and quit commenting on something you have no knowledge about

[@ExecutorCR]

@@josegallardo8334do you happen to know how opinion work in social media? If you don't like mine, that's on you, and frankly I couldn't care less.

[@tedbeale4738]

the english are a shameful lot. they have turned me off to the sport.

[@guusbakker79]

​@@josegallardo8334damn, guess 90% of the refs and analysts don't know anything about football either than, since almost every single ref and analyst that voiced their opinion has said that it wasn't a penalty. Even the English players didn't want to answer the question whether they thought the penalty was valid or not because they knew it wasn't.

[@MarcusBoughen]

Cry more

[@akshat2643]

Yes but i never saw this stupid thumbnail when Argentina were giving penalties after penalties .

[@acahn8505]

That's because they were all penalties, apart from the one against Poland. That one wasn't a penalty

[@kitamiwoome9349]

That's because argentina free to do whatever they want without any public scrutiny. And that Kane penalty was a correct call. It was definitely more of a penalty than the argentina penalty against France at the 2022 World Cup final match.

[@naomidiamond1999]

​@@acahn8505de Paul is trash he deserves 2 red card

[@armaanghafarian7234]

You are right That whole World Cup was fixed for Messi

[@aseq2]

@@armaanghafarian7234 And this one is for Kane? Poor lad can't win anything for his life, maybe a Euro will cheer him up somewhat

[@tanakameda2942]

Someone show Juls the replay again please 😂😂 as far as the referee appointment we knew something was gonna happen when they said they were surprised he's reffing a game this important when he was banned for match fixing!!! 😂😂

[@uncle_dj8424]

Fist half was 'good' for England because Koeman is tactically bad, resulting in Netherlands being overrun on the midfield and giving England tons of space

[@cossiethomas791]

Kane gets his shot off then contact happens, at any level in football no penalty. The other way round then definitely a penalty .

[@mhawkingz]

@@cossiethomas791 thank you someone else with a brain!

[@mhawkingz]

@@cossiethomas791 now, we can be friends, if you thought that the penalty for Argentina vs Croatia, wasn’t a pen! 😂

[@StephenB-c9b]

You can’t tackle showing your studs… we all know that.

[@mennoshouseofmusic1214]

Which tackle? It was a block

[@MrBallisticbass]

You cant make a hand Ball offensively- end of story

[@vidgam5824]

Yes

[@EdwinSpijker]

Harry is a big actor. If i need to win like this. No very bad

[@kylephaneufmusic]

The English media ridiculed the ref for days. What did you expect? They deserve an assist for the pen

[@stephanw7770]

So true. But tomorrow expect VERY soft calls against you.

[@dansugardude2655]

I likely would have given that foul in the middle of the field when it would have no impact on the game. It was a penalty by the black and white letter of the law. I think I would not have given that penalty in this exact situation because the game did not need it. The game needed the players to decide it, and unfortunately the officials decided it instead 😥

[@boonaabiyyaa2107]

No way that was a penalty. The ball was already played when the Dutch player made contact with Harry Kane. And the defender had his back to Kane. Another despicable officiating. Disgrace!!

[@brosephyolonarovichstalin2915]

If the German ref convicted of taking bribes says it’s a penalty then it’s a penalty.

[@Shodeh03]

"It was clearly not deliberate, he didn't score from it" sorry but is that your take? Ffs you work at ESPN, this is not analysis.

[@charlesnorwich5932]

It's even worse. The Netherlands vs England match was a FIXED MATCH where the referee used double standards for both teams (favouring England) and awarded England with a penalty that never existed. BTW, the referee of this game (Felix Zwayer) is a convicted referee. Why is this guy refereeing games? That just shows how credible UEFA is

[@dejjibd424]

Two very good pundits. Marcotti is one of the best.

[@Geenbullshit]

Some people saying studs is not good and better use the body. But how low you must dive to hold the ball with your body when running, instead with your legs because the ball wasn't so high? unreasonable discussion.....

[@marckoylass4720]

Absolutely no respect for Gab and his rubbish interpretation of this event and the entire game . Bais Italian.

[@qouta1456]

England had the easiest group, easiest bracket in KO's, and favorable calls for them. You can say the fix was in.....

[@hwy9nightkid]

all those other teams STILL had to win to advance... and yet, they didn't

[@waynekeebler6755]

FIFA needs to take a long and hard look at their referees, VAR involvement and foul interpretation. There has been a radical change in all 3 and how they articulate with each other and it has rendered the game unwatchable. How did the VAR miss the handball on the Spanish defender? Why was the Dutch defender punished for trying to block the shot? Why was Kane given both the shot on net and a penalty kick? Why isn’t holding called in the box during corner kicks? Finally, when players surround and try to intimidate referees, why are yellow cards immediately given to ALL transgressors? You have a very dirty dishonest game FIFA and you need to clean it up.

[@arno9233]

This was a UEFA tournament

[@waynekeebler6755]

@@arno9233 Yes it is, but all the referees, laws etc. are FIFA based and the problems with Football/Soccer ranges far beyond the Euros. The World Cup is less than 2 years away and all the same problems will crop up again.

[@michaelpower4372]

Exactly right?

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

UEFA has it set for England to get to the final. Go look at Declan Rice with his arms around AKE in the 18 yard box during a corner, and gets thrown to the ground and AKE gets called a foul. Bogus penalty for the cherry on top.

[@Darrenski]

Urm, yeah. Was that like one of those black and white dreams or the more vivid type. Interesting stuff. Still, medical issues aside, did you like the winner. A beautiful goal, no? Oh, poetry. You have to doff the cap at that one. Luck... no no. That was a goal you'll see feature in the footage of the euros for years to come. It will become one of the defining moments of this tournament.

[@wilcoschipstal6417]

@@Darrenski Great goal and I don't believe in a "set up" but the referee / VAR was for sure on England's side.

[@yyzsupra8338]

Holland is only a part of the Netherlands, what a stubborn ol' coot. That is a 70s term buddy. Replace GM OUT OF D8.😂

[@SI-cd7xs]

Where was this energy when Argentina were handed 5 soft penalties😂😂😂espn is so biased

[@arno9233]

Fair question, I think the attention can be explained partially due to the fact we now see the pattern easily as it happened before. And perhaps the English value principles like objectivity and sportsmanship. As a heartbroken dutch football fan I much appreciate seeing this. Suppose UEFA as the host is to blame , I will likely wait my whole life for their announcement of an investigation, punishments or retribution ..

[@shido_rimru_]

Keep crying mad you're idol penaldo could not score at all in euros penaldo washed up lol

[@junahs95]

it's a foul anywhere else on the pitch, so it's penalty

[@BennyBlancoNL]

So is handball. Saka

[@TheKennyboy92]

not it is not. Again Kane initiated the contact.

[@junahs95]

@@TheKennyboy92 nope Dumfries left his foot in even though he was never getting to the ball first

[@kunarhogedoorn4468]

@junahs95 have you ever played football m8? The rule there is only in play if dumpfries goes for a dangerous tackle or Block. AFTER kane got the ball from saka his arm. Just the fact that the var didnt check the attack before the "foul" is crazy

[@Joost.N]

@@BennyBlancoNL Twice handball actually, but hey apparently that's not important anymore these days, especially if it leads up to a very, very questionable penalty decision... why is VAR here again IF they don't pick on touching the ball with your hands twice leading to a shot on goal in the penalty area? Anyone? Also I guess if "there was contact!!!" is the argument then why the F... didn't The Netherlands get a penalty in the second half when not one, but two England defender literally threw Ake to the ground, and not in a wimpy manner, in the penalty area...?

[@zubz1771]

It wasn't lucky. It was a cool and calculated paying off an already known corrupt referee. And the England fans dared to call out the ref earlier before the game that he may be biased against them just because he had some altercation with Bellingham a few years ago lol.

[@naomidiamond1999]

Jude hate agenda is so forced

[@MarcusBoughen]

Cry more muppet

[@johnnybyrne9999]

Julien just said that the Dutch scoring early was the worst thing that could happen to them. I've heard it all now.

[@bigshaz1427]

saka handballed it before the penalty

[@runrafarunthebestintheworld]

They where the luckiest team of this tournament which is annonying. If they got Germany in the Quarter finals they wouldn't win.

[@alexojideagu]

Football is played on the pitch not would have could have

[@fodaytarawali6613]

But they didn't 😂 that's not how tournament football works 😂

[@MarcusBoughen]

What like we got them last euros in last 16 , 2nil to England , cry more snowflakes

[@rooooooby]

Netherland is a top 3 team based on performance in the tournament.

[@Yow531]

Yeah very lucky

[@maxgonzalez214]

Absolutely soft penalty

[@malcolmnelmes9447]

Give it a rest. Germany moaning about Spain. Netherlands moaning about England. In the end best teams always come to the top

[@DuderinoDeux]

A FARCICAL penalty

[@detonator2112]

It was probably right by the rules... but SO WRONG against the spirit of the game. Bulls*t penalty for sure.

[@michaelpower4372]

So why aren't the rules apply when there pushing and shoving at corners.

[@pahakuutti]

Not even based on rules. Only clear and obvious mistakes are meant to be looked at with VAR. If VAR is used, then the preceding handball by saka has to negate the penalty call.

[@BOOMBAPXL]

Never a pen😩

[@Betleyman7853]

I don't think I have ever seen a referee not give a penalty after the VAR suggests a review.

[@MightyMouse11]

In order to maximize revenue.

[@ณภัทรสุขแสง]

Why didn't Koeman play Frimpong who would have run the legs off Trippier.

[@MrPenderje]

England benefits from Saka's handsball

[@arno9233]

The game was rigged, both goals through ref manipulation. Nothing to do with luck

[@michaelpower4372]

He was holding his leg as it it was hit with a sledge hammer . Two minutes later his was taking the penalty.

[@stephanw7770]

According to Eufa, the best team won. EUFA: We do excuse hereby of the late response, counting money takes time.

[@greghollander3950]

If England starts to play their subs more or even bring them on as starters, England may have a chance against Spain. They’re underused, more motivated and healthier, as well as incredibly talented. I scratch my head when I see their starting line ups with yet again the same “BIG Names”.

[@TfortLo-q8m]

Before the match these were same pundits picking Netherlands and saying they were a notch above every team England played. Now the Netherlanda are nothing, and worst start is to score early? 😂 And penalty wasnt a penalty, and England got lucky, and this, and that, and if your nan had wheels she would be a motorbike! 😂 Embarrassing punditry

[@FCDHVleerstraat]

England may have deserved to win but both German referee and the VAR should be canned and sold as low priced dog meat

[@JohnnyRedvers]

Anywhere else on the pitch it's foul and freekick, so why is it different in the penalty area?

[@ZebraKatzWhereItsAt]

In the Prem league that could even be a red card elsewhere on the pitch... studs up, knee high, zero contact with the ball... only VAR makes it a penalty though, without VAR no penalty.... but freezeframe, slowmotion, ect... they are going to call it.

[@DirectorLi]

how about Saka hand ball twice just seconds before that play?

[@leonboot9312]

No its not

[@Mark_S_Moss]

The (current) rule is that if it hasn't influenced the shot, it must be "dangerous play" for a penalty, which it was, so a penalty was the right decision.

[@Playerz714]

the dudes foot hit the defender after the shot lol

[@ervinmiracle]

Van de Ven probably blocks Ollie Watkins's shot if he's on the field.

[@wazr4338]

Gab and Juls are brilliant, england were lucky with that penalty, thats what we call a fifa22 penalty

[@forret]

Kicking a player’s foot studs up is a free kick outside of the box. Are there rules inside the box I’m not aware of?

[@hadenwesley6548]

England isn't too bad when they stop playing classic Southgate godawful nonsense. Luckiest team in the tournament and Waistcoat Man will ride this horrible garbage to an extension. Soft pen, a Jude wonder goal, and the easiest path to the final. Credit to him for ONE game, much like the ONE game against France in World Cup when we all said "oh wow maybe he'll let the players attack" and right back to this unwatchable horror show all knockouts. FINALLY got to see a forward pass from the team who, man for man, has the best lineup in the tournament. Amazing.

[@rhonnienkalubo]

When someone is heading the ball, you're not allowed to challenge him with your feet because it's dangerous. Kane wouldn't hit that ball the same way if Dumfries doesn't challenge that way because the going over on the ball guides it's shape but he pulls out because he needs to protect himself as well.

[@michaelpower4372]

So why is an over head kick not classed as dangerous leg going up with studs showing could injury someone.

[@rhonnienkalubo]

@@michaelpower4372 7 out of 10 times someone puts his head when the other does an over head kick is judged a foul.

[@douglastaggart9360]

Obviously, the ref gave the Netherlands nothing.

[@Heyzues21]

Yes. Next question

[@raystraker]

Its right what you say we have played rubbish in 1st 45 mins past games and no substitute or change tactics, this game 1st 45mins brilliant so what do we do bring on substitute ( no probs with that) however go to flat back four and become negative again (rubbish). They were there for the taking as you said. As four Watkins getting man of match didnt they watch 1st 45 when Foden was brilliant untill tactics changed id be upset if I was him.

[@TheReactor8]

It was a mistake by the referee. And it made a 50/50 game go Englands way. That last minute goal was lucky as the exact same situation played 20 times he would never score. But that is football. Please win the final.

[@Emankind]

They certainly got all the officiating “calls” going their way.

[@thesaintst1851]

This “luck” meme needs to stop.. the only people that are pushing it and believe it HATE England. Fact. 2 back to back euros final appearances.. quarter final World Cup… yeah ok.. they’re “ lucky “ 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@louiscaeiroramos8051]

Why is everybody surprised about this penalty? He intended to block the ball with a stretchend leg but was late, missed the ball en kicked Kane. It is a fault and a yellow card and in the penalty area it should always be a penalty. If this fault would have been outside of the box, no one would criticize the ref if he gave a free kick and a yellow card. By the way, I'm Dutch.

[@michaelpower4372]

Ye we believe your Dutch. 🤭🤭

[@NeilB.-rv2ww]

These jokers call themselves journalists but do zero research & create a false argument on the penalty. All teams & one would expect the media if they just read what they were given .. knew that the refs had been directly instructed before the Euros that any studs showing interractions were to be called as fouls (& likely yellow card). This situation matched those instructions so VAR had no choice but to give a penalty. If these instructions had not been given then there's a legitimate argument that a penalty should not be given. However, the instructions were in place, so correct decision, no argument. If the stupid media would just properly inform the public, all this waste of time would be avoided.

[@stephanw7770]

Still is a double handball first so.

[@DavidWilliams-hy1qk]

No one talks about the quality strike from Ollie Watkins.

[@QuamfyMarc]

Also Lucky de Vrij opens his leg. 😂

[@michaelpower4372]

Walker slid into a tackle studs up but got away with it.

[@Mark_S_Moss]

Under the rules and protocol of the last 2 years, it was a CLEAR penalty because Dumfries' challenge was deemed "dangerous". He led with his studs, foot up high, leg fully extended, which was dangerous. Kane could easily have broken a metatarsal. Were England lucky? xG doesn't say so. Foden had an effort cleared off the line and hit the post with the keeper well beaten. Saka scored a goal which was marginally offside. The Netherlands did very little to suggest it was a lucky victory. PS. Weghorst should have a clear yellow card on 3 separate occasions. The big donkey put himself about way too much like a Sunday league player.

[@leijenburgh01]

Doesn’t matter we lost from the English, now Holland is spared the humiliation of losing the final big time against Spain. So I am left enjoying the tour the France and Wimbledon. I am worried the English will face a big humiliation Sunday.

[@tfan5927]

Heard there were a saka hand ball, the foul given on Kane are debatable as he already hit the ball then Kane foot go into drumfries. Depend how you the referee saw in on the monitor. The second goal is referee error as it suppose to be a corner as stone clear the ball and England get away with it and score. Nice goal. Southgate substitution been saving him during the tournament and luck.

[@Sam-jy5tj]

Studs up challenge, didn’t get the ball and got the man. There’s no debate it’s a foul. If you challenge studs up it’s on you to get the ball and make the angle such that you don’t take the man. It’s dangerous play and a foul anywhere on the pitch. The rules aren’t different in the penalty area.

[@fang.clarkec7584]

I mean when I listen to the comment about the handball, it wasn’t clearly deliberate 😅😅😊. No handball is sir Also Jules comment 3:30-3:44 is funny but yet hit the nail on the head soooo true about Eng.

[@loj74fun]

The UEFA did put this referee in an impossible position. Throughout every match, there are questionable decisions. UEFA should have known that every decision of this referee was going to be criticized by the other team and associated with the Bellinham- situation. This referee was desperately trying to prove that he was impartial and made mistake after mistake.

[@daviddenham1511]

NEVER a penalty!

[@abumansaray7]

So handballs have to now be deliberate? What?

[@arnoldroos898]

YES!

[@johno9761]

NEVER A PENALTY

[@dostovan5142]

Of course

[@njd2342]

England owe Felix for being blind to Saka's handball (twice) before Kane kicked Dumfries. .

[@krisxchirbas9503]

@njd2342 haha the craziness of you people is insane. Aren't you the guy who called the 66 linesman a ref and Russian? No offence, but you aren't informed enough to speak. Let's not pretend Germany weren't completely robbed of a penalty against Spain. Dumfries had his studs up. It was always gonna be a foul.

[@LockeNL]

Disgrace. Like the 90’ minute. A corner kick not given.

[@stephanw7770]

Never ever a penalty.

[@wouterdijkstra2567]

A bit harsh on De Vrij, I find… he played a really good tournament and was one of the most reliable defenders consistently through each match. I have to say, Watkins goal was just outstanding and of extreme accuracy and timing. Really sad for us Dutchies, though. But nonetheless a fair win I find. The English squad was just better and much more dangerous and creative than the Dutch, altogether. Congrats to you lot! And all the best wishes for the final! Go get the cup!!!

[@Kaleem78]

Ditto, he was Dutch best defender in the tournament and contained Kane well the whole match, defense on the goal was poor as he probably didn’t study as much Watkins as much as Kane and he is never a no nonsense closedown defender, however, other than VVD, there’s no as reliable Dutch centre back right now

[@stephanw7770]

You call it fair. Impossible to play with all soft call i favor of the English. Not even talking about the penalty. Just many freekicks on fair duels. Even diving was awarded. Referee was very much biased because of the pressure of the English media and by the Eufa to put him in charge with his background and trouble with Bellingham before. So all on the Eufa. FIFA EUFA are corrupt. With 1 man fully in control of all that power. History shows that is never a good idea.