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Gary Neville branded Harry Kane’s penalty against the Netherlands a “disgrace” as England were handed a lifeline in their Euro 2024 semi-final.
England will play Spain in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday after Ollie Watkins struck a stunning 91st-minute winner against the Dutch to secure a 2-1 win.
Gareth Southgate’s side had trailed to Xavi Simons’ stunning strike inside seven \minutes in Dortmund before England were awarded a penalty that divided the pundits at half-time.
Kane hit a rising strike over the crossbar from inside the penalty area but as the England captain stayed down holding his foot, replays showed he was caught by Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries.
Even though Kane managed to get his shot away, the VAR recommended an on-field review for referee Felix Zwayer, who pointed to the penalty spot after consulting the monitor.
🗣️ "It's an absolute DISGRACE... It's nowhere near a penalty."
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 10, 2024
🗣️ "That was RECKLESS from Dumfries."#Euro2024 | #NEDENG | @IanWright0 | @GNev2 pic.twitter.com/MBcwzzIgxi
On ITV, former England defender Neville called the decision a “disgrace” while Roy Keane said Kane helped influence the VAR’s decision by staying down in the box.
Neville clashed with fellow pundit Ian Wright, who was adamant it was a penalty. But Neville was incredulous as Wright called Dumfries challenge “reckless”.
“As a defender I think it's a disgrace,” Neville said. “At any time, in a game of such importance, I was fuming by the Denmark one [a handball against Germany], I was offended.
“It's natural to block the shot, it's not a penalty, nowhere near a penalty.
“We're all going mad, we don't know what a penalty is. We've conditioned ourselves in the game to think that's a penalty. Honestly, that is not a penalty. I think in the box, there's a bit of licence to go in and block the shot.”
“When you look at the way penalties are given now, it was reckless,” Wright said. “That’s why it was given. Anywhere else on the pitch, that’s a foul.”
Neville countered: “That is not a penalty. I think in the box, there's a bit of licence to go in and block the shot.”
On commentary, former Scotland striker Ally McCoist said the decision was “fortunate” while former England defender Lee Dixon said: “I’m pleased, don’t get me wrong but you have to challenge for the ball.
“I don’t think it’s a penalty but I don’t care.”
“My foot’s hanging off so he definitely caught me!” Kane said after full-time.
“Sometimes you get them sometimes you don’t. I was happy to step up and see that go in the back of he net. It was a nice feeling for sure.”
Kane’s spot-kick cancelled out a superb Simons opener before Watkins stepped off the bench and wrote his name into the history books by sealing a 2-1 triumph in the 90th minute.
No English men’s team has made it to a major final on foreign soil before and now they have the chance to become European champions for the first time this weekend.
