Destiny has pitted two of the oldest footballing nations against each other in a European Championship semi-final match-up that will capture fans across Europe’s imaginations.
England’s most celebrated encounter against the Netherlands came during Euro 96 when Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham helped Terry Venables’ side beat them 4-1 at the Westfalen stadion.
In this article, we will discuss the high lights of Netherlands National Football Team vs England National Football Team.
Here’s a table comparing the all-time best players from the Netherlands National Football Team and the England National Football Team:
| Position | Netherlands (All-Time Players) | England (All-Time Players) |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Edwin van der Sar | Gordon Banks |
| RB | Wim Suurbier | Gary Neville |
| CB | Ronald Koeman | Bobby Moore |
| CB | Virgil van Dijk | John Terry |
| LB | Giovanni van Bronckhorst | Ashley Cole |
| CM | Johan Neeskens | Frank Lampard |
| CM | Frank Rijkaard | Steven Gerrard |
| RW | Arjen Robben | David Beckham |
| LW | Ruud Gullit | Stanley Matthews |
| ST | Johan Cruyff | Wayne Rooney |
| ST | Marco van Basten | Harry Kane |
| Coach | Rinus Michels | Sir Alf Ramsey |
Both nations have a deep footballing history, with the Netherlands known for Total Football and England for their 1966 World Cup victory. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments!
Netherlands
The Netherlands and England are in pursuit of silverware at Euro 2024, and this semi-final will determine who faces Spain in Sunday’s final at Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Both teams had thrilling quarterfinal encounters prior to reaching this stage – England needed Bukayo Saka to save them against Switzerland before successfully converting all kicks in their penalty shootout, while Holland defeated Turkiye 2-1 thanks to Cody Gakpo’s first-half double and Donyell Malen’s late goal against Turkiye.
Both teams made one change to their quarter-final starting lineups, with Gareth Southgate swapping out Ezri Konsa for Marc Guehi while Ronald Koeman recalled Steven Bergwijn for an injured Ake.
There’s an enthusiastic atmosphere at the Westfalenstadion for England’s inaugural appearance in a final four tournament. Former Three Lions captain Gary Lineker and son Zac Lineker can be found among this crowd of supporters.
England struggled in the opening half to break through an organised Dutch defence, with Phil Foden emerging as a real menace in midfield wreaking havoc and seeing two shots saved by Dumfries or hitting woodwork.
Just after halftime, Watkins provided Saka with the ball in the Aston Villa box; with him passing Van Dijk before shooting low under Verbruggen to score. An official review confirmed this goal despite claims it had crossed before Dumfries cleared it away.
England continued their pursuit of an equaliser during the second half, creating some excellent chances. Kane headed Danny Rose’s cross from the left just wide while Foden and Shaw came close with two headers that got the crowd going crazy.
England
England were initially forced back by the Netherlands early in the game, but managed to regain possession and move forward creating two chances. One came when Foden played out to Shaw on the right who attempted to jink past De Vrij into space but was held back. Shortly afterwards Kane found himself free on the left and sent over a cross which was quickly blocked away by Zwayer.
After the break came and a more cagey period began with neither team finding many clear-cut opportunities, Bellingham was booked for his late challenge on De Vrij as England struggled to gain any foothold in the match and shortly afterwards Van Dijk received a caution for taking down Van Gaal too easily.
At this juncture, Southgate turned to his substitutes to inject fresh life into his side and it paid dividends, with Kobbie Mainoo and Cole Palmer helping turn the tide in England’s favour; Mainoo’s pass allowing Watkins to turn Stefan de Vrij in an late twist that secured England a place in their second Euro 2024 final in as many tournaments.
Both teams had endured nail-biting quarterfinal matches to reach this stage of competition; England relied on a late equaliser by Bukayo Saka against Switzerland before triumphantly emerging victorious from their shoot-out, while Holland overcame a staunch Turkiye team before progressing.
After an initial lull, the game resumed a more open, free-flowing style of play, with Netherlands dominating early exchanges. Home side were initially forced back as they attempted to break down visitors’ strong defensive shape but soon found their own rhythm of play.
At a high-level opening 45 minutes, Xavi Simons made an early statement and put the Dutch ahead after seven minutes with his stunning strike. Taking over from Rice, the winger charged into the box before firing an arrow into the top corner that just missed Jordan Pickford’s fingers as it flew home – an astounding moment from one who has been consistently brilliant throughout this tournament – it will remain in many minds long after this match has concluded.
Predictions
England and Netherlands, two European powerhouses, are set to square off tonight in Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion for an epic Euro semifinal encounter. The winner will advance to face off against either Spain or France and both are hoping for their first Euro final appearance since 1988; The Dutch haven’t seen victory in 30 years while England hope this is their year!
Gareth Southgate’s side are one point clear of fifth place in their group and earned a dramatic 3-2 win against Switzerland after a tight penalty shootout in their quarter-final match. Belgium made life tough in their semi-final clash but ultimately came away victorious thanks to an own goal from Matthijs de Ligt and Kyle Walker’s late strike in their semi-final match, giving England another narrow but vital edge against them with 3-1 triumph.
The Dutch have an impressive record against England, winning all five of their meetings since 2003 without suffering defeat at any stage. Their last friendly ended 0-0; on this occasion, however, they are considered underdogs at +250 odds.
Ronald Koeman will likely keep his starting XI unchanged against Spain due to no injury concerns or suspensions, and expect Xavi Simons will retain his starting role at number 10 while Memphis Depay will stay put in Memphis Depay’s attacking trio behind him. Steven Bergwijn should remain on right wing while Joey Veerman and Jerdy Schouten should continue in their holding midfield roles.
England have some injury concerns, but are unlikely to make significant alterations to the team that won their quarter-final against Turkey. Kieran Trippier should return to his regular left-back spot, while Luke Shaw could make another brief appearance on the right side of defense after playing briefly against Turkey.
At 20:15 BST, this match will start, and a 1-0 victory by the Dutch should be enough to propel them through to Sunday’s final in Berlin. A draw would see them finish third in their group while defeat will likely see them exit altogether from competition.
Head-to-Head
England and Netherlands have had an age-old rivalry, boasting talented squads full of match-winners on each side. Both boast long traditions and passionate fan bases that always promise thrilling matches between these teams; matches between England and Netherlands usually deliver on this promise as both have some of Europe’s top players on board – the upcoming match between Netherlands and England should not disappoint in either aspect.
Dutch fans have begun filling Westfalenstadion, creating an orange sea. The atmosphere within the stadium is already electric despite it being over three hours before kick-off.
England’s players now have an opportunity to show that their poor first half performance wasn’t simply an isolated incident. To win this match-up, England must play smarter and with greater discipline during the second half.
Gareth Southgate will likely experiment with his lineup for this game, featuring uncapped players. He will aim to find an optimal balance between defensive capabilities and attacking abilities of his players; for instance, Declan Rice must demonstrate that he can match Ajax star Ryan Gravenberch’s creative energy and physicality.
Davinson Sanchez of Ajax will also aim to show he can cope with the physical demands of English football. The defender must remain focused in order to keep the ball away from his own goal while preventing any mistakes that might lead to goals for England.
The match between Netherlands and England promises to be an intense contest, determined by team tactics and individual skill. Memphis Depay will lead their defense under Virgil van Dijk who is well known for his strength and airborne maneuvers; with Memphis Van Dijk taking charge on defense while providing Memphis with attacking spark.
Even with their disappointing form in this tournament, the Netherlands still remain favorites against England. Their dynamic attack can produce multiple goals against a less experienced English defense; additionally, they possess greater comfort with the ball than English players and thus can quickly break through an organized defense structure.