The Netherlands will face England in the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals on Wednesday at Signal Iduna Park, with a spot in the final on the line.
Although the Oranje have managed to make it to the final four, their performances have been far from convincing. However, the Netherlands have an impressive record against England, and there is no doubt that they have the quality in the squad to overcome the Three Lions.
England have been quite underwhelming at UEFA Euro 2024 as well, and they have barely managed to scrape through in the important games. They will need to raise their performance levels if they want to make it to the finals of the competition. England finished as the runners-up in the last Euros, and they will be hoping to go all the way this time around.
In terms of quality, the Three Lions have the players to compete with any team on their day, and it will be interesting to see if they can step up and produce a strong performance here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the Netherlands and England
Team News & Tactics
Netherlands
The Netherlands do not have any major injury issues getting into this contest, and Ronald Koeman should be able to field his full strength line up. The Oranje are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Bart Verbruggen in goal.
Denzel Dumfries and Nathan Ake are likely to be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to help out defensively and join in during attacking transitions. Virgil van Dijk will start at the heart of the defence alongside Micky van de Ven.
As for the midfield unit, Jerdy Schouten will start alongside Joey Veerman. They will look to provide defensive cover to the side and break up opposition attacks. Tijjani Reijnders will start as the central attacking midfielder here, and he will look to create goalscoring opportunities in the final third.
Xavi Simons and Cody Gakpo will start in the wide areas. They will look to add goals and creativity to the side. Finally, Memphis Depay will lead the line for the Netherlands against England.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, van Dijk, van de Ven, Ake; Schouten, Veerman; Simons, Reijnders, Gakpo; Depay
England
Marc Guehi has already served his one-match suspension, while Jude Bellingham has been handed deferred suspension. So, England will be able to field their key players for this game. The Three Lions do not have any major injury worries either.
England will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Jordan Pickford in goal. Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier will be deployed as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch here. John Stones will start alongside Marc Guehi at the heart of the defence.
Declan Rice will start as the defensive midfielder here, and he will look to protect the back four and break down opposition attacks. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham and Kobbie Mainoo will add control and drive to the side alongside him. Finally, Harry Kane will lead the line for England against the Netherlands, with Bukayo Saka on his right and Anthony Gordon on his left.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Bellingham, Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Kane, Gordon
Key Stats
- Netherlands are undefeated in ten of their last 11 matches against England in all competitions.
- England are undefeated in their last five away matches against Netherlands in all competitions.
- Both teams have scored in five of the last six matches between these two teams.
- 19 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
- In Memphis Depay (17 shots, 10 chances created) and Cody Gakpo (13 shots, 11 chances created), the Netherlands are the only side with more than one player to have both 10+ shots and 10+ chances created. One or both of Depay and/or Gakpo have been directly involved in 47 of Netherlands’ 74 shots at this Euros
Player to Watch
Harry Kane
The England captain has scored just two goals in the UEFA Euro 2024 so far, and the Three Lions will need him to step up and deliver here. The Netherlands have quality central defenders at their disposal, and they will look to shut out the opposition here.
England will need Kane’s ability to find the back of the net and create goalscoring opportunities with his link up play in the final third. The 30-year-old striker will have to be at his best if England are to get through here.
Prediction
Netherlands 2-1 England
Both teams are quite evenly matched, and this should be a cracking contest. However, England have been quite poor going forward, and they could struggle to breakdown a quality Netherlands defence.
Both teams are likely to get on the scoresheet here, but the Netherlands should be able to edge this one. A narrow victory for the Dutch is on the cards here. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Ronald Koeman and his charges.
