GARY NEVILLE slammed the referee over his controversial decision to award England a penalty against the Netherlands.
Harry Kane equalised from the spot after being caught late in the box by Denzel Dumfries after blazing his shot over the bar.
Referee Felix Zwayer initially decided not to point to the spot but reversed his decision following a review of the incident on the VAR monitor, much to fans delight.
But Neville believes his first call was the correct one and was heavily critical of the decision to award a penalty.
He fumed on ITV, saying: “I think it’s an absolute disgrace. It’s an absolutely disgraceful decision. To have that given against me as a penalty at any time, but in a game of such importance.
“I was fuming with the one the other week. The Denmark one the handball. That was a disgrace as well, I was offended by that one.
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“He goes in naturally just to try and block the shot. It’s not a penalty it’s nowhere near a penalty and I have to say I don’t think there were many England players claiming for it either.
“It’s never a penalty but you take your luck.”
Ian Wright disagreed with his colleague, claiming Dumfries’ challenge was “reckless”.
That incensed Neville further who hit back saying: “Reckless?! That is not reckless.
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England’s controversial penalty
By Mark Halsey
HARRY KANE was gifted a penalty by controversial referee Felix Zwayer.
If England had been on the receiving end of that decision, we would have been absolutely fuming.
The German official, previously banned for six months for his part in a match-fixing scandal, should not have been sent to the pitchside monitor by VAR Bastian Dankert.
Both Denzel Dumfries and Kane had their feet in the air as England’s captain got his shot away.
It was just a clash of legs and certainly NOT a ‘clear and obvious error’.
Once Zwayer went over to the monitor, we knew what was going to happen.
He is an excellent referee but we have seen that none of the officials seem mentally tough enough to stick with their original call.
I know some people will argue Dumfries was late to the tackle and it would have been a free-kick elsewhere on the pitch.
But it is a contact sport and it’s natural that there will be a coming together in instances like that.
Aside from the penalty award, Zwayer had a good game.
There were fears decisions would go against England because of Jude Bellingham’s previous comments about Zwayer.
Bellingham was fined £34,000 in 2021 for blaming Zwayer and his match-fixing past for Borussia Dortmund’s 3-2 defeat to Bayern Munich.
But Zwayer was right to caution Bellingham for his reckless challenge on Stefan de Vrij in the second half.
England’s penalty shootout record
THE dreaded penalty shootout.
England’s nemesis at no fewer than EIGHT major tournaments since 1990, from the West Germany heartache at Italia 90 to Wembley woes on the brink of Euro 2020 final glory.
But the perfect shootout win over Switzerland at Euro 2024 gives some reason for optimism…
- 1990 World Cup semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 04/07/1990 – LOST 4-3
- Euro 1996 quarter-final vs SPAIN, 22/06/1996 – WON 4-2
- Euro 1996 semi-final vs WEST GERMANY, 26/06/1996 – LOST 6-5
- Friendly vs BELGIUM, 29/05/1998 – LOST 4-3
- 1998 World Cup last 16 vs ARGENTINA, 30/06/1998 – LOST 4-3
- Euro 2004 quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 24/06/2004 – LOST 6-5
- 2006 World Cup quarter-final vs PORTUGAL, 01/07/2006 – LOST 3-1
- Euro 2012 quarter-final vs ITALY, 24/06/2012 – LOST 4-2
- 2018 World Cup last 16 vs COLOMBIA, 03/07/2018 – WON 4-3
- Nations League third-place play-off vs SWITZERLAND, 09/06/2019 – WON 6-5
- Euro 2020 final vs ITALY, 11/07/2021 – LOST 3-2
- Euro 2024 quarter-final vs SWITZERLAND, 06/07/24 – WON 5-3
- OVERALL: Played 12 Won 4, Lost 8
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England ratings vs Holland
ENGLAND stormed into the final against Spain thanks to Ollie Watkins’ last-minute strike in the 2-1 win over Holland.
It was a brilliant team performance, but how did each player rate?
SunSport’s Tom Barclay ran the rule over Southgate’s boys, and here’s how he rated them.
Jordan Pickford: 7
Bigger goalkeepers may have got a stronger hand to Xavi Simons’ early stunner – though that was being hypercritical. Solid stop to deny Virgil van Dijk after the hour.
Kyle Walker: 7
Looked re-energised after some lumbering displays and bombed on at times in the first half, despite his role on the right of a back three. Last-ditch tackle on Cody Gakpo was spot on.
John Stones: 7
Strong in possession. He looks to have benefited from regular game-time after rarely featuring for Manchester City in the last few months.
Marc Guehi: 6
Came back into the side after suspension ruled him out of the Switzerland game. Had an unenviable task of making the big man Wout Weghorst after the break.
Bukayo Saka: 7
Razor-sharp in the first half, winning tackles, making runs and dribbling the ball proficiently. Less of an impact after the break, had a goal ruled out for offside and was booked.
Declan Rice: 6
Lost possession for Simons’ thunderous opener but grew into the game, mopping up where necessary. Poor pass when Kane was open midway through the second half.
Kobbie Mainoo: 8
Was England’s youngest-ever player to play in a major-tournament semi-final, aged 19years 82 days, and had a stormer in the first half. Great bursts forward, vital tackles, and his interplay with Foden was a joy.
Kieran Trippier: 6
We all know by now that he is playing out of position, so again he was limited going forward and reliable defensively. Subbed at half-time for the more natural Shaw.
Phil Foden: 7
The first 45 minutes was by far and away his best half of the tournament. Thought he’d scored when his shot was cleared off the line by Denzel Dumfries, and cracked the post with a cracker. But was then surprisingly subbed.
Jude Bellingham: 5
Back at the ground where he made his name but struggled to make much of an impact on his old stomping ground. Fortunate it was not he that was subbed.
Harry Kane: 6
Won and dispatched the penalty to go joint top-scorer in the tournament with three goals. Had looked more mobile initially but still tired badly after the break and was taken off.
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Luke Shaw (for Kieran Trippier, half-time): 6
Looked assured for a man who has been out for so long.
Ollie Watkins (for Harry Kane, 81): 9 and STAR MAN
Surprisingly given the nod over Ivan Toney as striker sub as Southgate looked for more pace in behind. Brilliant finish into the corner to win the game – you could not ask more from him.
Cole Palmer (for Phil Foden, 81): 7
Had his big chance in the final minutes but shanked it horribly wide – but then fed Watkins for his wonderful winner.
Gareth Southgate: 8
His switch to a back three against Switzerland helped dig out the win there, and here it had his team finally playing some great football in the first half. The team went into their shells again as the game wore on and you feared the worst – but you have to say his decision to bring on Ollie Watkins was a masterstroke.
“We’re all going mad, we don’t know what a penalty is. We’ve conditioned ourselves now in the game whereby we think that’s reckless and we think that’s reckless.
“Honestly that is not a penalty.
“I think in the box I think there is a bit of license for a defender to go in with honesty and block the shot.
“There has got to be a bit of license otherwise you’re never blocking a shot.”
The penalty had a crucial impact on the game as Ollie Watkins struck a last-gasp winner to hand England a 2-1 victory and a place in the final.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
