Contentious penalty

They went ahead here after just seven minutes thanks to a brilliant effort by Simons, who robbed Declan Rice 35 metres out and advanced before sending a rasping drive beyond Jordan Pickford.

The Dutch players ran off to celebrate with their fans behind that goal, as England found themselves trailing for the third game running.

Just like against the Swiss in the quarter-finals, however, they reacted swiftly.

Kane forced a save from Bart Verbruggen and moments later sent a volley over the bar, and was caught by Denzel Dumfries on the follow-through.

It seemed totally innocuous but Zwayer was summoned to review the images and gave a penalty.

Kane, whose missed spot-kick against France cost England dear in the 2022 World Cup, made no mistake, slotting low into the corner.

It settled into an open and entertaining game, with Dumfries clearing off the line from Phil Foden and then crashing a header off the bar from a Simons corner. Foden responded by curling a superb shot off the post.

England’s midfielders were being given too much time on the ball, and Koeman used an injury to Memphis Depay to reinforce the centre, replacing the forward with Joey Veerman.

Wout Weghorst replaced Malen at half-time, but the game became more cagey as the minutes went on.

Pickford denied Virgil van Dijk on 65 minutes and the Netherlands began to take control as England’s leading players tired.

England had the ball in the net on 79 minutes when Bukayo Saka turned in Kyle Walker’s cutback, but the latter was just offside and the flag came up.

Southgate then decided to remove Kane and Foden, with Watkins and Palmer entering the fray to devastating effect.