Euro 2020: Knocking out Germany, England shed agonizing history

It was Southgate's penalty miss at the old Wembley that denied an England side with Seaman in goal the chance to reach the Euro '96 final.

London: As the Wembley Stadium announcer roared the final score — “England 2, Germany 0″ — Gareth Southgate’s vision was momentarily diverted from his victorious players to the big screen.

Shown beaming from the VIP seats, reveling in England’s passage to the European Championship quarterfinals on Tuesday, were David Beckham and Ed Sheeran.

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Prince William, wife Kate and 7-year-old Prince George were also there celebrating, as fans just like their subjects rather than royalty.

But it was the sight of David Seaman that caught Southgate’s eyes and made him pause, to think back — in one of his greatest moments as England coach — to the pain of 25 years ago.

It was Southgate’s penalty miss at the old Wembley that denied an England side with Seaman in goal the chance to reach the Euro ’96 final.

“For the teammates who played with me, I can’t change that — so that’s always going to hurt,” Southgate said.

“But what this group of players has been able to do is give a new generation a lot of happy memories and another afternoon where they have made a bit of history.”

England are finally unburdened by the weight of its agonizing history against the Germans.

This was a day more reminiscent, albeit with a long way to go in Euro 2020, of the 1966 World Cup final win over them on the same site.

Not that it came easily. Just like in England’s two group wins, Raheem Sterling was on the scoresheet, breaking the tense deadlock in the 75th minute. But this time Harry Kane finally scored his first goal at Euro 2020, easing the pressure on the 2018 World Cup Golden Boot winner’s shoulders.

“With all the expectation and pressure, we delivered,” Kane said. “It’s a moment none of us will ever forget. The perfect afternoon.”

It was England’s second-ever win in the knockout stage of the European Championship. The last such triumph came on penalties against Spain at Euro ’96 before the hosts were denied a place in the final by Germany in that shootout.

Now England will play Ukraine in the Euro 2020 quarterfinals on Saturday in Rome, eyeing a return to Wembley for the semifinals and the final.

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