England take on the Netherlands in the second semi-final of Euro 2024, with both sides looking to book a place in Sunday’s final as they face off in Dortmund.
The Three Lions put in an improved performance against Switzerland but still required penalties to reach the semis, with Bukayo Saka shining, but they will know they need to improve again if they are to beat the Dutch.
Gareth Southgate’s men remain slight favourites to make Sunday’s showpiece, but they’ll need to be wary of the threat from players including Cody Gakpo, Xavi Simons and Memphis Depay.
Ronald Koeman’s side started the tournament in a similar fashion to England, but a 3-0 win against Romania followed by an enthralling 2-1 turnaround in the quarter-final against Turkey means that the Oranje will be quietly confident ahead of Wednesday’s game.
Follow the latest updates and reaction from the Netherlands vs England below:
Harry Kane addresses fitness concerns ahead of England’s crunch Euro 2024 semi-final
Harry Kane has declared he is “getting better and sharper”, saying he has become accustomed to “question marks over my fitness or my form” throughout his career ahead of England’s Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.
England’s campaign has seen constant discussion over the captain’s physical condition, with another early substitution against Switzerland leading to calls that Ivan Toney comes in for Wednesday’s semi-final in Dortmund.
Kane came into the tournament after picking up a back injury during the final weeks of the season with Bayern Munich, and there have been questions over whether he has been able to press to the level required for England’s gameplan.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 July 2024 16:30
Gareth Southgate: England out to ‘break new ground’ after overcoming inhibition
Gareth Southgate says England’s players are ready to make history, having overcome external noise, the weight of expectation and a fear of failure to reach another European Championship semi-final.
After topping their group in unconvincing fashion, the Euro 2020 runners-up needed a stunning Jude Bellingham strike to save their blushes against Slovakia before beating Switzerland on penalties.
England are now preparing for a third semi-final in four major tournaments, with the Netherlands standing between them and a second successive Euros final.
“You’re now into that moment in the tournament where it’s what’s possible, what’s achievable, rather than what might go wrong,” boss Southgate said.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 July 2024 16:15
Watch live as Dutch supporters march to stadium for crunch Euro 2024 semi-final against England
Watch live as Dutch supporters march to the BVB Stadion Dortmund ahead of their crunch Euro 2024 semi-final against England.
Gareth Southgate says England’s players are ready to make history, having overcome external noise, the weight of expectation and a fear of failure to reach another major semi.
After topping their group in unconvincing fashion, the Euro 2020 runners-up needed a stunning Jude Bellingham strike to save their blushes against Slovakia before beating Switzerland on penalties.
England are now preparing for a third semi-final in four major tournaments, with the Netherlands standing between them and a second successive Euros final.
Ronald Koeman is the manager hoping to break English hearts, and the Dutch beat Turkey and Romania in their previous two knockout matches to reach the last four.
Jamie Braidwood10 July 2024 16:04
England vs Netherlands team news
Netherlands have not seen anybody suspended during the tournament and despite losing several names to injury ahead of the Euros starting, seem to have escaped without further losses during their five matches so far. The big decision for Ronald Koeman will be whether to stick with Steven Bergwijn starting on the right or to bring in either Donyell Malen or Wout Weghorst, the latter meaning a reshuffle of the attack, Xavi Simons likely moving to the flank.
Predicted Netherlands XI (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Reijnders; Bergwijn, Simons, Gakpo, Depay.
Marc Guehi is back from suspension and with Luke Shaw having returned to fitness to appear off the bench in the quarter-final, England should also have a full 26-man squad for Gareth Southgate to choose from. Starting Shaw or not – and if in place of Kieran Trippier or someone else – will be the manager’s big decision, while Guehi may not come back into the side if Ezri Konsa keeps his place.
Predicted England XI (3-4-2-1): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Trippier; Foden, Bellingham, Kane.
Karl Matchett10 July 2024 16:00
Euro 2024: Dutch fans set to march to stadium ahead of England semi-final
As is tradition, the Netherlands fans will march to the stadium and turn Dortmund Oranje ahead of tonight’s semi-final against England.
Jamie Braidwood10 July 2024 15:54
Riot police called to Euro 2024 fan zone in Dortmund earlier
Netherlands fans are outnumbering England fans in Dortmund, with The Guardian reporting the main fan zone in the city’s Friedensplatz was closed earlier due to overcrowding.
Reports suggest riot police were called to deal with the number of Netherlands supporters, with the fan zone reaching capacity seven hours before the 9pm local time kick-off.
While there were no arrests, police informed fans to they needed to leave the area after overcrowding fears were raised.
An estimated 75,000 Dutch fans are expected to be in Dortmund tonight, along with 17,000 England fans. Thousands of Dutch fans will march to the stadium this afternoon.
Jamie Braidwood10 July 2024 15:46
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With the Euro 2024 semi-final between England and Netherlands just hours away, keep up to date with the latest — from team news, fixture details, analysis and more.
The Independent10 July 2024 15:45
The key battle to dictate who wins as England face Netherlands at Euro 2024
Karl Matchett10 July 2024 15:30
England, Netherlands and the curious case of intertwined ideals, style and history
The English invented football. Then they ran out of good ideas and the Dutch reinvented it. And if that is something of a simplification, at best, a semi-final can seem a meeting of near-neighbours who misunderstand each other. English league records have been set by a side with a Dutch influence, with the principles of Total Football fed via Johan Cruyff to Pep Guardiola and helping Manchester City win four consecutive domestic titles.
Richard Jolly10 July 2024 15:15
Harry Kane believes England have handled criticism ‘really well’ at Euro 2024
Harry Kane believes England have dealt with the “noise” that surrounds the team at major tournaments as the captain targets another European Championship final.
England face the Netherlands in Dortmund tonight aiming to make it to their second final in a row.
After losing on penalties to Italy three years ago at Wembley, Kane will be aiming to see off the Dutch and then lead England to a first major men’s trophy in 58 years in Berlin on Sunday evening.
Harry Latham-Coyle10 July 2024 15:00