July 11th 2024.
The semi-final match between the Netherlands and England in the Euro 2024 tournament was filled with drama and controversy. The Dutch players were left seething with anger towards the referee, Felix Zwayer, for his decision that ultimately led to England's victory. And it seems they were not alone in their frustration, as a former FIFA referee also believes that the penalty awarded to England should not have been given.
Despite the uproar, England secured their spot in the final for the second consecutive time after defeating the Netherlands 2-1 in a tightly contested game on Wednesday evening. The Dutch team managed to take an early lead through Xavi Simons' spectacular long-range goal in the 7th minute. However, the game took a turn when England was awarded a penalty for what seemed to be a generous decision by the referee.
The penalty was given when Denzel Dumfries, a defender for the Netherlands, attempted to block a shot from England's captain, Harry Kane. In the process, he clipped Kane's foot, which resulted in a VAR review and ultimately a penalty for England. Kane successfully converted the kick, leveling the score and sending the game into extra time. But just as the game seemed to be heading towards a penalty shootout, Ollie Watkins' fantastic goal in the 90th minute sealed a dramatic win for the Three Lions, who will now face Spain in the final on Sunday.
The Dutch players were not the only ones who were unhappy with Zwayer's decision. In his post-match analysis for Swedish broadcaster SVT Sports, former FIFA referee Jonas Eriksson pointed out that the penalty was given after a crucial infringement was missed moments before Dumfries' challenge on Kane. He also highlighted that England's Bukayo Saka had handled the ball just before the incident, which should have resulted in a penalty for the Netherlands instead.
Eriksson, who has officiated at major events like the 2014 World Cup and the 2013 UEFA Super Cup and 2016 Europa League finals, expressed surprise that VAR did not intervene and overturn the penalty. He also mentioned that while the rulebook may consider it a penalty, in reality, it should not have been given.
During his analysis, Eriksson also talked about the Dutch defender's perspective on the penalty incident. Dumfries, speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, admitted that it was a difficult moment and took responsibility for the foul on Kane. He explained that he was trying to block the shot and in the heat of the moment, the contact resulted in a penalty.
At half-time, during the ITV analysis, former England and Manchester United defender Gary Neville expressed his anger towards the penalty decision. He called it a "disgrace" and felt that it was not a penalty at all. He also mentioned that even the England players did not seem to be claiming for it, and it was ultimately their luck that they got the decision in their favor.
Despite the controversy, England played well in the first half, and Neville gave credit to their performance. It was a heated and emotional match, and the penalty decision only added to the drama. As the game ended in England's favor, they will now face Spain in the final, and the Netherlands will have to settle for the third-place playoff.
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