England are set to clash with the Netherlands in a highly anticipated Euro 2024 semifinal at Dortmund’s BVB Stadion on Wednesday, July 10th. Kickoff is scheduled for 9pm (19:00 GMT), and fans worldwide can follow live text commentary on Al Jazeera, starting four hours prior to the match. While England eyes their second consecutive Euro final, they must overcome a Netherlands side fresh off a dramatic quarterfinal victory against Turkey in Euro 2024.
England’s journey to the semifinal has been marked by underwhelming performances despite their quarterfinal shootout win against Switzerland. Relief overshadowed euphoria as their attacking play has been described as drab, suggesting a need for significant improvement if they hope to advance to the final and potentially face Spain. Gareth Southgate, England’s manager, acknowledged the pressure on his young team, stating, “These are national events with huge pressure, with really young men in the middle of it… Our team has been under enormous pressure from the start. They’re doing so well. So well.” He also noted the difficulty in scoring goals against well-organized defenses.
Image alt text: Wout Weghorst celebrates scoring a crucial goal for the Netherlands against Turkey in the Euro 2024 quarterfinal, highlighting the team’s resilience.
The Netherlands, in contrast, experienced a rollercoaster quarterfinal match against Turkey. They were on the brink of elimination, just 20 minutes away, before staging a remarkable comeback. This victory against Turkey showcased their fighting spirit and secured their place in the Euro 2024 semifinals. This resilience will be crucial as they prepare to face England. The Dutch team has shown a tendency to start slow, having conceded first in three of their four scoring games in the tournament. However, their ability to bounce back, as seen in the Netherlands Turkey Euro 2024 quarterfinal, makes them a dangerous opponent. Interestingly, despite these comebacks, their three wins in the tournament have all been in regulation time, outperforming England in this aspect.
Statistically, the Netherlands holds an edge in attack at Euro 2024. They have scored nine goals from 20 shots on target, while England has managed 15 shots on target with a less prolific goal tally. The Dutch attack is spearheaded by Cody Gakpo, who is currently a joint top scorer in the tournament. Gakpo’s form could pose a significant threat to an otherwise solid England defense, contrasting sharply with England’s own attacking trio of Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Jude Bellingham, who are yet to reach their peak performance levels in this tournament.
While bookmakers favored England before the tournament, the Netherlands’ semifinal appearance is somewhat unexpected. This marks their first Euro semifinal in 20 years, and they are aiming to reach their first final since their historic Euro 1988 triumph. Similar to England, the Netherlands has faced criticism regarding their performances. Coach Ronald Koeman defended his team’s commitment after their victory against Turkey, emphasizing their “big heart” in overcoming adversity. Looking ahead to the England match, Koeman stated, “We need to fight to win the semifinal… It will be a great night on Wednesday between two big nations historically. England have good players, but we have too.”
Historically, the Netherlands has enjoyed more success in head-to-head encounters against England. Their last meeting was in the 2019 UEFA Nations League semifinal, where the Netherlands defeated England 3-1 in extra time. England’s recent record against the Dutch is poor, with only one win in their last nine matches across all competitions. Their most memorable victory against the Netherlands was at Euro 1996, a thrilling 4-1 win in the group stage.
Image alt text: Exterior view of the BVB Stadion in Dortmund, Germany, the venue for the Euro 2024 semifinal match between Netherlands and England.
The influence of the English Premier League is significant for both teams. A large portion of the England squad plays domestically, and the Dutch squad includes seven Premier League players. Dutch defender Micky van de Ven believes this Premier League connection will contribute to an exciting semifinal. “If you see the quality of the players from both teams, I think you can expect that the level and the rhythm of the game will be really high,” Van de Ven commented.
FIFA Rankings & Head-to-Head:
- Netherlands: 7
- England: 5
Head-to-head Record (22 games):
- Netherlands Wins: 7
- England Wins: 6
- Draws: 9
Last Five Matches:
- Netherlands: W-W-L-D-W
- England: D-W-D-D-W
Possible Lineups:
- Netherlands: Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Simons, Reijnders; Malen, Depay, Gakpo
- England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
