BITTER German press have accused England of “cheating” their way into the Euro 2024 final.
Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions will face off against Spain in Berlin on Sunday as they look to lift a major trophy in the men’s game for the first time since 1966.
It’s not been an easy journey for England as they’ve battled through every game, relying on penalties, extra time, injury time goals and their own resilience to force their way into this weekend’s showpiece.
And German media have claimed that Southgate’s side have “cheated” their way to the bright lights of Berlin, hinting that England should not have progressed past the Netherlands on Wednesday.
Ollie Watkins’ 90th minute winner against the Dutch was the goal that sealed a second shot at European glory for Southgate’s Lions.
Watkins had built upon Harry Kane’s first half spot-kick equaliser, which left Dutch players and staff fuming after Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have fouled the England skipper in the box.
The Oranje players were adamant that the penalty should not have stood with many suggesting the referee got the decision completely wrong after a VAR check.
And German outlet BILD has since labelled England as cheaters in their build up to Sunday’s showpiece clash with Spain.
A post on their website reads: “Only two days left until the 17th European Championship final between Spain and England will take place in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.
“The signs on Sunday are clear: While the British cheated their way into the final, the Spanish impressed throughout the entire tournament.”
BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS
While another post on the site bills the game as “the team that plays the most beautiful football against the team that plays the most pragmatic football”.
Following England’s dramatic 2-1 win over the Netherlands, Dutch captain Virgil van Dijk also hinted that the penalty awarded to the Three Lions shouldn’t have stood.
In a post-match interview he took aim at referee Felix Zwayer, saying: “I don’t know what I should say, I don’t know if I should say something about this.
“I said it outside to our Dutch media, it says it all that the ref went in quite quickly after the game and we had no time to shake his hand.
“It is what it is, the game is done, it’s very tough to take.
“Certain moments it’s obvious that it [decisions] should’ve gone our way, it didn’t. I don’t know what to say, it’s difficult to accept this.
“It’s been a very long year, a tough year. We had a big dream and we felt like we could’ve achieved it as a team, unfortunately, it didn’t happen.”
While Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman gave a similar assessment in his interview following their exit.
He said: “This is not a penalty. His only intention was to block a shot. Harry Kane then shoots and their feet collide.
“Football is getting broken with these types of calls by VAR.”
But Dumfries, who fouled Kane for the penalty, held his hands up and took responsibility for the decision.
He said: “I take all responsibility for the penalty moment. I didn’t do it on purpose. I just wanted to block the shot.”
Sections of the English media even thought that the Three Lions were lucky to get the decision themselves, as Gary Neville described the penalty call as “a disgrace”.
But others thought the decision was spot on, with Ian Wright labelling Dumfries’ intervention as “reckless”.
England’s hard work has earned them a spot in Sunday’s final and they have continued to look better and better as each game has gone by.
They will play in their first major final on foreign soil this weekend against Spain, who Southgate has claimed have been “the best team” at Euro 2024.
Germany were knocked out by the Spaniards themselves in the quarter-finals – losing 2-1 after a 119th minute winner from Mikel Merino got Spain over the line.
