With a late goal fit for a king, England reaches another Euro final by beating Netherlands 2-1

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — England is into another European Championship final after its latest dramatic, come-from-behind win that even took King Charles III on a roller coaster ride.

Ollie Watkins, who came on for captain Harry Kane in a bold call by England coach Gareth Southgate, scored in the first minute of stoppage time to earn England a 2-1 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday and a shot at Spain in the title match.

In the knockout stage at Euro 2024, England has scored a stoppage-time equalizer through Jude Bellingham before edging past Slovakia in the last 16 and needed a penalty-shootout to see off Switzerland in the quarterfinals.

England is keeping its supporters back home on the edge of their seats — and that includes its monarch.

“If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated!” the king said in a congratulatory message soon after the game in Dortmund.

Watkins' goal was fit for a king.

He had only made one previous appearance at Euro 2024 — as a substitute in the group game against Denmark — so it was a surprise when he was introduced by Southgate in the 80th minute in England’s biggest match so far.

The gamble paid off.

Fed by another substitute in Cole Palmer, Watkins took a touch with his back to goal just inside the area and, from a tight angle, smashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner.

“Unbelievable — I’ve been waiting for that moment for weeks,” said Watkins, the Aston Villa striker who was the fourth-equal top scorer in the Premier League last season. “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to where I am today. I got the opportunity and took it with both hands.”

It was painful for Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman.

“I had a feeling toward the end of the match that maybe we could score,” Koeman said, "and for sure in extra time I’d have put money on us.”

England will play Lamine Yamal and Spain in Sunday's final in Berlin. It will be the nation's first title match on foreign soil, having won the World Cup in 1966 and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final — both times at Wembley Stadium.

“It’s going to be unbelievably tough – a really difficult game,” Kane said of the title match, with Spain widely regarded as the best team at the tournament. “One more game to make history.”

The sea of orange in the giant South Stand at Dortmund's Westfalenstadion fell silent for the first time after Watkins' late goal. It housed the most vocal of the Dutch supporters who dominated the city center before marching in their thousands to the stadium ahead of the game. Police reported three separate clashes between fans from both countries in the city.

It gave the occasion the feeling of a home match for the Dutch and England was up against it even more after the 21-year-old Xavi Simons became the second youngest scorer for the Netherlands at a Euros.

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder dispossessed Declan Rice about 40 meters (yards) out, drove forward and unleashed a shot into the far corner from outside the area.

Compared to the 16-year-old Yamal, Spain’s new superstar, Simons is a soccer veteran but this was another case of a young player shining on the big stage at the Euros.

Kane has had plenty of big moments at major tournaments and he had another when he slotted home a penalty after Denzel Dumfries’ outstretched leg made contact with Kane’s foot as the England striker attempted a shot.

Kane became the sixth player to be on three goals for the tournament.

An open first half, which saw Dumfries and England’s Phil Foden hit the goal frame, made way for a tight and tense second half that had a huge two-minute spell when Bukayo Saka had a goal disallowed before Kane and Foden were taken off.

It might rank as Southgate’s best call in his eight-year England tenure. And that the goal was set up by Palmer, who entered as a substitute the same time as Watkins, will have have made it even sweeter.

“We are giving people some amazing nights ... but we are not finished,” Southgate said.

AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024

England's Harry Kane challenges for the ball with Jerdy Schouten of the Netherlands during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman applauds supporters after a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. England won 2-1. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Netherlands soccer fans react at a pubic screening at the end of a semi final match between Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands leaves the pitch after a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. England won 2-1. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

England's Kobbie Mainoo tries to comfort Stefan de Vrij of the Netherlands who is dejected after a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

England's manager Gareth Southgate celebrates at the end of a semifinal against Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. England won the game 2-1. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

England's Harry Kane, rear center, scores his side's first goal by a penalty kick during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

England's Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

England's Ollie Watkins celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Netherlands during a semifinal at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

England's Ollie Watkins, right, scores his side's second goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

England's Harry Kane celebrates in the arms of teammate Ollie Watkins at the end of a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. England won 2-1. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

England players celebrate after winning a semifinal match against the Netherlands at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen lies on the pitch as England players celebrate after a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

England's Harry Kane celebrates in the arms of teammate Ollie Watkins at the end of a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. England won 2-1. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

England's Ollie Watkins, center, celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

England's Ollie Watkins, center, celebrates after scoring his sides second goal past Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Xavi Simons of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

Xavi Simons of the Netherlands scores the opening goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

England's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

England's Harry Kane shoots to score his sides first goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

England's Harry Kane celebrates with England's Jude Bellingham, right, after scoring his sides first goal during a semifinal match between the Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Netherlands fans celebrate at the Friedensplatz in the city center ahead of a semifinal match between Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

An England fan shows a placard of national coach Gareth Southgate during celebration ahead of a semi final match between Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Netherlands fans celebrate at the city center ahead of a semi final match between Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Fans of the team of the Netherlands gather for a fan walk towards the stadium ahead of a semifinal match between Netherlands and England at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Dortmund, Germany, Wednesday, July 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — If Raiders coach Antonio Pierce changes quarterbacks, he likely will have to stick with Aidan O'Connell for the rest of the season.

Otherwise, what's the point?

Pierce made clear when he took over as Las Vegas' interim coach midway through last season that O'Connell was the starter the rest of the way.

He wasn't ready to be so concrete on Monday on whether sitting Gardner Minshew — the Raiders' starter the first five games — would mean a permanent change to O'Connell. Pierce didn't want to box himself in just yet, at least publicly, so he batted down any questions along those lines.

But it has to be a factor in his thinking as the Raiders (2-3) try to respond to Sunday's 34-18 loss to the Broncos. Minshew was benched at Denver after throwing two interceptions, though O'Connell didn't elevate the team's play, either, in passing for 94 yards with a pick of his own.

The last thing Pierce wants is to do is flip-flop the quarterbacks the rest of the season, so if he and the staff believe Minshew still gives the Raiders their best chance to win, they probably will remain with him.

But there's also the idea of finding out whether O'Connell has much of a future. If Pierce decides to go back to O'Connell, it largely will be with an eye on the big picture rather than trying to win week to week.

Pierce might not be there yet, hoping to salvage the season with 12 games left on the schedule.

“I’ve seen enough Aidan last year and a lot this year,” Pierce said. “I know what to expect when Aidan gets in the game.”

The real problem for the Raiders is the quarterback they need isn't on the roster. That player could still be in college or might be on another NFL roster because neither O'Connell nor Minshew has shown he is capable of making the Raiders a contender.

If Las Vegas can trade wide receiver Davante Adams for assets that will benefit the club and maybe even help land one of those quarterbacks, that's probably the Raiders' best way out of this mess.

How soon the Raiders make a deal, if they are able to pull one off, remains uncertain. Pierce called it “status quo.”

When asked where it all went wrong with Adams, Pierce said, “You’ve got to ask Davante that.”

Maxx Crosby almost any time he's on the field. After a high ankle sprain caused him to miss a game for the first time in his career, Crosby came back looking like the same pass-rush menace. He had two sacks to reach five for the season, putting him on pace to surpass his career high of 14 1/2 set last year.

Special teams usually isn't an issue, but the coverage teams didn't have their best day against the Broncos. They allowed 54 yards on two punt returns and 61 yards on two kickoff returns. One 38-yard punt return put the Broncos at the 50-yard line and helped set up a touchdown.

Tight end Brock Bowers is the Raiders’ best first-round draft pick since they selected running back Josh Jacobs in 2019. He was targeted 12 times at Denver, catching eight passes for 97 yards. That included a 57-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive in which Bowers caught the pass over one defender and showed his athletic ability by outrunning by another.

The Raiders under Pierce have been a disciplined team that doesn't beat itself with penalties. Well, at least not until the trip to Denver, where Las Vegas committed 11 penalties for 79 yards. That was the most penalties for the Raiders since they committed 13 on Dec. 18, 2022 against New England.

DT Christian Wilkins (foot) was injured against the Broncos. Pierce had no update on Monday.

7 — Rookie quarterbacks have seven consecutive victories against the Raiders with Denver's Bo Nix adding his name to that list. Those QBs have a combined 100 rating, 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions.

The Raiders are back at home Sunday against Pittsburgh.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell, right, avoids Denver Broncos defensive end Zach Allen in the second half of an NFL football gam,e Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Geneva Heffernan)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell looks at the scoreboard after throwing an incomplete pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew, front, walks off the field with guard Jackson Powers-Johnson after an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew looks on from the sidelines as time runs out in the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)