England came back to turn the tide in their favor after conceding the early goal in the seventh minute of the match. Xavi Simons surprised the English defense by hitting the ball from outside the box onto the top left of Jordan Pickford's post. His goal gave the Dutch team the lead in the clash before Harry Kane scored the equalizer from a penalty. In the 90th minute of the clash, substitute Ollie Watkins' goal kept England's hopes of winning their first European title alive.
"I took the job to try to improve English football and now we are in a second final. The last one was the first in over 50 years. Now we are in a first abroad. We are giving people incredible nights. We have given fans some of the best nights of the last 50 years. I'm very proud of that," Southgate said after the game.
"I'm delighted that everyone at home feels as we do and as those in the stadium did. But we're not done. We have to prepare for the biggest test possible. We came here to try to win." the tournament and that remains our goal," he added.
England have had a difficult road to the final, being the first team in European Championship history to do so after trailing in both their quarter-final and semi-final matches.
Jude Bellingham's 95th-minute bicycle kick put them ahead of Slovakia in the round of 16, and they needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Switzerland. Furious fans threw plastic cups at Southgate after the 0-0 draw with Slovenia in the group stage.
"We all want to be loved, don't we? When you do something for your country, you're a proud Englishman, you don't feel that in response and all you read is criticism, it's difficult," Southgate said.
"Being able to celebrate a second final is very special. If I hadn't been on the pitch, I would have been watching and celebrating like they (the fans) did.
"I am the one who has to choose a team to be able to give them a night like this was very special. We came here to win and play against the team that has been the best in the tournament [in the final]. But we are still here and fighting "he concluded.
England will take on lively Spain in the tournament's summit clash at Berlin's Olympiastadion on Monday 15 July.
"I took the job to try to improve English football and now we are in a second final. The last one was the first in over 50 years. Now we are in a first abroad. We are giving people incredible nights. We have given fans some of the best nights of the last 50 years. I'm very proud of that," Southgate said after the game.
"I'm delighted that everyone at home feels as we do and as those in the stadium did. But we're not done. We have to prepare for the biggest test possible. We came here to try to win." the tournament and that remains our goal," he added.
England have had a difficult road to the final, being the first team in European Championship history to do so after trailing in both their quarter-final and semi-final matches.
Jude Bellingham's 95th-minute bicycle kick put them ahead of Slovakia in the round of 16, and they needed a penalty shoot-out to beat Switzerland. Furious fans threw plastic cups at Southgate after the 0-0 draw with Slovenia in the group stage.
"We all want to be loved, don't we? When you do something for your country, you're a proud Englishman, you don't feel that in response and all you read is criticism, it's difficult," Southgate said.
"Being able to celebrate a second final is very special. If I hadn't been on the pitch, I would have been watching and celebrating like they (the fans) did.
"I am the one who has to choose a team to be able to give them a night like this was very special. We came here to win and play against the team that has been the best in the tournament [in the final]. But we are still here and fighting "he concluded.
England will take on lively Spain in the tournament's summit clash at Berlin's Olympiastadion on Monday 15 July.
