Dortmund: Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman faced a bittersweet journey home after England's Ollie Watkins sealed a 2-1 victory in added time, dashing Dutch hopes of a Euro 2024 title resurgence since their last triumph in 1988.

Koeman expressed his disappointment over the pivotal penalty decision that favoured England, following Denzel Dumfries' challenge on Harry Kane. "In my opinion, this should not have been a penalty," Koeman criticised through an interpreter, citing frustrations with VAR. "I think that we cannot play proper football and this is due to VAR. It really breaks football."

Until the contentious penalty, Dutch fans had created a vibrant atmosphere at the stadium, filling the South Stand, typically known as Borussia Dortmund's 'Yellow Wall ', now transformed into a sea of orange. They celebrated animatedly with beach balls and balloons, envisioning a final clash against Spain in Berlin—a poignant rematch of their 2010 World Cup final.

Koeman's team had shown flashes of brilliance throughout the tournament, notably holding France to a goalless draw despite contentious VAR decisions, and navigating past Romania and Turkey in the knockout stages. However, a 3-2 loss to Austria highlighted vulnerabilities, making their semifinal against England a game of fine margins.

Dumfries, pivotal once again, was central to the drama—conceding the penalty that allowed England to equalise, nearly scoring with a header that struck the crossbar, and clearing Phil Foden's goal-bound shot off the line.

Reflecting on the penalty incident, Dumfries acknowledged the contact but expressed frustration over the outcome. "There was contact so you think he can give it," he conceded to Dutch broadcaster NOS. "It’s annoying. I take responsibility. I didn’t do it deliberately. It happens in a split second."

For Koeman and the Dutch faithful, the loss stung deeply, marking the end of their Euro 2024 journey. Despite the disappointment, Koeman's tenure has seen the resurgence of Dutch football on the international stage, setting the stage for future endeavours as they strive to reclaim their former glory. AP