Denzel Dumfries makes Harry Kane confession after controversial Euro 2024 semi-final penalty

Denzel Dumfries gave away a penalty during the Euro 2024 semi-final between the Netherlands and England

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Connor O'Neill and Samuel Meade

12:19, 12 Jul 2024

Denzel Dumfries owned his mistake as England were awarded a controversial penalty

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Denzel Dumfries has shown his true colours by shouldering the blame for the contentious penalty given to England.

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But despite making the admission, the Netherlands defender has also claimed that he barley touched England captain Harry Kane. The Dutch were left in shock when a penalty was awarded to the Three Lions during their semi-final following a VAR review.

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Dumfries had tried to intercept a Kane volley, and as the Bayern Munich player remained on the ground, it allowed time for the incident to be scrutinised. Although Kane appeared to come into contact with the Inter Milan man while attempting to take the shot, initially, there was little expectation that a penalty would be called.

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However, upon reviewing the footage at the pitchside monitor, the referee decided to award the spot-kick, enabling England to draw level. The defender admitted that he anticipated the outcome as soon as he saw the referee reconsidering the play.

He said: “I want to block the shot. I barely touch him. I do think [it’s a VAR penalty]. You know when he goes to the sideline, he can give it. I take full responsibility."

Ronald Koeman, the Dutch manager, fumed: "In my opinion, it should not have been a penalty. He kicked the ball, and the boots touched. I think that we cannot play properly football, and this is due to VAR. It really breaks football."

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While Virgil van Dijk said: "I don’t know what to say, I don’t know if I should say something about this. But I think it says it all that the referee went in quite quickly after the game, had no time to shake his hand."

Gary Neville, part of the ITV punditry line-up, confessed: "There's no way that was a penalty. He just goes in naturally to block the shot. It's not a penalty for me."

The Three Lions reached another European Championship final as they won 2-1 in Dortmund, with Ollie Watkins coming off the bench to fire in a 90th-minute winner. Gareth Southgate's side will now face Spain in Berlin on Sunday.