This post on X from Louis Wheeldon (click below), harnessing his inner Gary Barlow, probably speaks for quite a few England fans this morning.

He posted a short clip of the lyric "Whatever I said, whatever I did, I didn't mean it" from their 1990s hit Back For Good.

Southgate has come in for plenty of criticism at the start of the tournament and over the years. Were you one of those fans?

Get in touch with your apologies to Gareth!

Early in the tournament, most people didn't think they'd see England make it all the way to the final this summer.

We certainly didn't think we'd see England fans telling a German policeman "you still turn me on".

Metro

After scoring last night's semi-final winner against the Netherlands, Ollie Watkins is featured on the front page of today's Metro, which says it was "nether in doubt" that England would reach the Euro 2024 final.

Safe to say that headline was written in jest, given the criticism Gareth Southgate faced earlier in the tournament.

Image source, Metro

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Former Exeter boss Paul Tisdale believes Ollie Watkins has experienced the "perfect wave" through his career.

The 51-year-old gave Watkins his professional debut at the Grecians and also sent him on loan to Weston-super-Mare in the National League South.

He sold England's matchwinner to Brentford for £1.8m in 2017 - before the striker went on to join Aston Villa for £28m.

Watkins went from League Two to the Premier League in just three years and is now a Three Lions hero after his late semi-final winner.

"He has ridden the perfect wave, he has had the right coaches at every level who have added to him," said Tisdale.

"He has done it with total authenticity, a fantastic work ethic, a smile on his face and he appreciates everything he’s got. He has had the privilege of the perfect stepping stones. I don’t think he could have done it any better.

"When you are developing as a young player, people talk about patterns of play and shapes and but the real stuff is learning what it’s like to be 1-0 down with 10 minutes to go, learning what it’s like to be 1-0 up with 10 minutes to go. Learning playing up the hill, in the rain, being on a yellow card.

"It’s going through a series of experiences which mean something. You could add all the technical excellence but you have to learn and experience what it’s like to be a competitor, representing your club in a competitive league where it matters.

"If you are making hundreds of small steps going forward that is the perfect development and it’s hard to argue Ollie hasn’t experienced the perfect wave."

Joe Nelson
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

"Who cares how we are playing? We are winning."

Those words were uttered by former England centre-back Matt Upson during the Three Lions' run to the Euro 2024 final.

Whether through luck, grit or just sheer brilliance, Gareth Southgate's team have found a way to succeed.

From Jude Bellingham's brilliant bicycle kick to Ollie Watkins' last-gasp stunner, we look back at the key sliding doors moments from England's Euro 2024 campaign so far.

Click here to read the full feature

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on the Football Daily podcast

I think we’ve got a bit of cocky arrogance about us, but in a good way. You cast your mind back to the game against France in the World Cup and that arrogance they had, where they thought they were better.

I think this group has started to develop that, they are exceeding huge levels of performance. Across the board we are really confident as a group. It shows in the penalties and it shows in moments like that, where we do the right things, hitting the right note at the right time in massive moments during games.

If you’re going to do that and you play well and you’ve got the players, you’ve got a great chance of winning this thing.

BBC Radio 5 Live

England fan Dave from Plymouth speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I used the word ineptitude [when speaking about Southgate] and last night it was different. This is what I wanted all along.

"I just wanted to see a bit of effort and movement, and a little bit of gloss, and we got that last night. I was, for parts of last night, happy. You have to take the bull by the horns."

Chris Warburton
Presenter, 5 Live

I agree that Southgate is boring and cautious but if the end result is that you are winning and successful, then it doesn't really mater then does it?

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

On foreign soil it is the first time ever [the England men's team have reached a final] and the players have taken us on a rollercoaster in this tournament.

Performances have been poor, but results have been excellent.

It was England's best performance of the tournament but it is no surprise that it was because they played a team who came out a bit more. It was more like a Premier League match.

Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

That was Ollie Watkins’ moment. Trent Alexander-Arnold had his moment against Switzerland with that winning penalty. To take it and be ready for it when you’re needed shows just an unbelievable level of character and resilience.

Gareth Southgate is owed a lot of credit for the way he managed that game.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Here's how former England striker Alan Shearer reacted to Ollie Watkins' winner in last night's semi-final, during BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on the Football Daily podcast

It was clear Jude Bellingham wasn’t as happy in the second half as he was in the first because he had to play on the left side of a back three, without much joy.

I was wondering when the changes where going to happen - 20 minutes to go, 15 minutes to go? It had to happen and the changes were right, the changes were perfect. One of those changes was Ollie Watkins. What a night for him and what a night for England.

So we've had The Killers and Kings of Leon.

Did any other bands celebrate England's success with their fans on Wednesday?

Image source, Getty Images

England defender Marc Guehi speaking to BBC Sport: "It's an unreal feeling. I am so happy, so proud of the team. It is a great achievement.

"I thank god for every opportunity. I am just grateful to be here.

"I can't heap any more praise on [Ollie Watkins], especially for someone who has not played as much as he would have liked."

What's got England to this point? "Togetherness, the fans. Not giving up. The togetherness. To get to where we are, it's hard.

"Credit to the manager, credit to the staff. Credit to him for leading this team to another final."

Holly Bacon
BBC Sport journalist who attended England's Euro 2024 semi-final as a fan

The atmosphere at Signal Iduna Park was special - completely on another level to anything I’ve ever experienced. The concourse was rocking hours before kick-off and the noise from the England end was just deafening. We might have been outnumbered by the Dutch but we certainly weren’t out-sung. Seeing the shock, disbelief and complete and utter joy on people’s faces at full-time was absolutely beautiful. Everyone was having the time of their life.

It’s always special when the players come over at the end of the game. Southgate was going mental and he was met with passionate roars of encouragement from the England end.

It’s not been easy for us England fans out in Germany, some pretty drab football and endless travel problems but to experience that, what will become known as ‘that night in Dortmund’ makes it all worth it.

With flight prices now extortionate, many England fans are planning unconventional routes to Berlin on Sunday. I'm going via Venice and Prague.

Charlotte Richardson
Football pundit speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kobbie Mainoo was fantastic. He and [Declan] Rice have anchored the midfield that has given the attacking players the confidence to go forward.

[Gareth] Southgate made his substitutions and they made a difference. That's been really common in this tournament. It has been a massive squad effort.