Forget final tension and focus on the fun football we've witnessed along the way

The fact that England have reached a major tournament final is strange enough but their serene progress through these European Championship finals has made it even more odd.

The Three Lions are supposed to put their fans through the emotional mill during a nail-biting campaign that ends with them snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Yes, they were underwhelming against Scotland, had to wait until the last 15 minutes to see off Germany, and needed extra-time to get past Denmark, but even in those games there was never quite the same sense of doom-laden tension as in tournaments of yore.

It's been, whisper it, fun – as has the majority of the football at Euro 2020. We've seen our fair share of magical moments but also, crucially for the enjoyment of spectators, plenty of spectacular errors.

The deluge of own goals, missed penalties and thrown-away leads has been wonderful to witness in this age of well-drilled, supremely fit footballing units coached by tactical masterminds cancelling each other out in slick but sterile fashion.

We need sights like poor David Marshall getting tangled up in his own net, and defenders struggling to sort out their feet while crosses are fizzed across the six-yard box, and Spain's Unai Simon conceding via a 50-yard back pass.

It's not all been defensive blunders, either. Simon's teammate Alvaro Morata had a magnificently chaotic campaign, giving his Golden Boot backers more ups and downs than even the most volatile cryptocurrency investment.

Elsewhere, Ukraine's Andriy Yarmolenko extended his inexplicably good international record to 42 goals in 99 caps; both of Karim Benzema's goals against Portugal were scored with the clock showing 46:44; and Thorgan Hazard was a surprise winner of the Hazard of the Tournament award. Football, eh? Bloody hell.

Not got a William Hill account? Sign up and bet £10 to get £30 in free bets

Open a new account using Promo code H30 only, Min £10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. T&Cs apply 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE

MORE FREE BETS

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Live blog, betting insight and in-play tips on every Euro 2020 match at www.freesupertips.com