Sterling immediately switches focus to Euro 2020 final against Italy

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England will regroup and be ready to face Italy in the final of Euro 2020 after an emotional semi-final win over Denmark, forward Raheem Sterling said.

Emotions ran high on the Wembley pitch as Gareth Southgateโ€™s men reached a first major final since 1966 with a 2-1 extra-time win.

Sterling, brilliant throughout the tournament, won the penalty from which Harry Kane ultimately scored the winner.

He said after the celebrations, which included the fans and players serenading each other with โ€˜Three Lionsโ€™ and โ€˜Sweet Carolineโ€™, focus would soon return.

โ€œItโ€™s another step in the right direction,โ€ he added. โ€œBut once weโ€™re back in the dressing room itโ€™s over and weโ€™ve got to focus on the weekend now. Itโ€™s step by step and thatโ€™s all we can do,โ€ he told ITV.

England fell behind to Mikkel Damsgaardโ€™s free kick, but quickly equalised as Simon Kjaer put through his own goal under pressure from Sterling.

Sterling then won a penalty โ€“ approved by VAR โ€“ after a tackle from Joakim Maehle, which Kane missed but then finished on the rebound.

โ€œIt was a top performance โ€“ we had to dig in deep after the first goal we conceded in the tournament, and we regrouped well and showed a good team spirit to come back and win the game,โ€ Sterling added.

โ€œIt was difficult going behind but we knew we had to stay patient โ€“ we knew with the legs weโ€™ve got, the aggressiveness and the power we have in the team, it would be a matter of time before we broke them down.โ€

Unsurprisingly, Sterling defended the penalty decision in his favour, adding: โ€œI went into the box and he stuck his right leg out, and it touched my leg, so it was a clear penalty.โ€