Gary Lineker believes England shouldn't have been awarded a penalty in their 2-1 Euro 2024 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday night.
Xavi Simons put the Dutch ahead after just seven minutes, with the Paris Saint-Germain star breaking the deadlock with a terrific shot that sailed past Jordan Pickford and into the top corner.
Just 11 minutes later, however, controversy struck.
England were given a penalty after Harry Kane went down inside the box following a tackle by Denzel Dumfries.
Gary Lineker believes England shouldn't have been awarded a penalty in their 2-1 Euro 2024 win over the Netherlands on Wednesday night
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Kane was able to pick himself up to convert the spot-kick, with substitute Ollie Watkins then bagging the winner in the closing stages.
However, people within the Netherlands camp are unhappy with the decision.
Ronald Koeman vented his fury in the aftermath of the match, while Virgil van Dijk admitted he had to restrain himself from saying what he really wanted to say.
And Lineker believes the Dutch have every right to be aggrieved.
“I’m sorry but however biased you may be, I can’t see how that is a penalty,” he said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
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Micah Richards, who was also appearing on the podcast, agreed with his BBC colleague.
“It was pathetic to see that decision," said the former Manchester City star.
"And when they sent him to the screen, I just knew he was going to overturn it. You can still go to the screen and stick with your original decision.
“I don’t think it helped the fact that Kane was rolling around.
"And he might have been in pain because we’ve all, as footballers, had it that way, it just catches the bottom of your foot at times.
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"But I don’t understand what Dumfries is supposed to do there.
"He’s not gone and lunged at Kane. He’s sort of kept his distance, put his foot up to block the shot, Kane’s had the shot, followed through.
“It’s just a collision after the shot. It’s one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen in top-level football.
“It wasn’t a penalty. Fact. It’s not the case of, ‘Oh well, if that...’ And that is the problem with VAR.
"We’ve talked about it. But, as England fans, as Englishmen, we will take it.”
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Harry Kane was given a controversial penalty as England beat the Netherlands on Wednesday night
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"But I don’t understand what Dumfries is supposed to do there.
"He’s not gone and lunged at Kane. He’s sort of kept his distance, put his foot up to block the shot, Kane’s had the shot, followed through.
“It’s just a collision after the shot. It’s one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen in top-level football.
“It wasn’t a penalty. Fact. It’s not the case of, ‘Oh well, if that...’ And that is the problem with VAR.
"We’ve talked about it. But, as England fans, as Englishmen, we will take it.”
England beat the Netherlands 2-1 to make the final of Euro 2024
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"But you need a little bit of luck in this game.
"I take the point that if it's anywhere else on the pitch, it's a free kick but when it's a big decision, I've always like the physicality of football and in the box, split decisions - not for me."
