July 10th 2024.
The Netherlands is about to face England in their first major semi-final in 10 years. The stakes are high for both teams, as England is just two games away from Euro 2024 glory. The first task for the Three Lions is to overcome a resurgent Netherlands side in the semi-finals, which will take place on Wednesday night in Dortmund. The winner will secure a place in the final in Berlin.
This will undoubtedly be Gareth Southgate's toughest test of the tournament. Despite underwhelming performances from his team, the Dutch have emerged as a formidable opponent. With world-class talent in both their defence and attack, the Netherlands is a force to be reckoned with. So, let's take a closer look at everything we need to know about the Netherlands and how England can stop them.
The Netherlands was dealt a tough draw in Group D, but they got off to a decent start by coming from behind to beat Poland 2-1. Super sub Wout Weghorst scored a late winner, setting the tone for their journey. They were then held to a goalless draw by France, with Xavi Simons having a late winner controversially ruled out by VAR. However, their first loss came at the hands of the impressive Austria, who defeated them 3-2. Despite these setbacks, the Netherlands managed to qualify as one of the best third-place teams. But their best form was yet to come.
In the knockouts, the Netherlands defeated Romania 3-0 in an end-to-end last 16 tie. Their quarter-final clash against Turkey was equally thrilling, as they came from behind again to secure a 2-1 victory. This set up the highly anticipated semi-final against England.
Ronald Koeman is the manager of the Netherlands, and he brings a wealth of experience to the team. As a Euro 1988 winner and one of the greatest central defenders of all time, Koeman's managerial career may not have been as successful as his playing one, but it still boasts an impressive list of clubs on his CV. This includes Ajax, Benfica, PSV, Valencia, Feyenoord, and Barcelona. He is also known to English fans for his time as the manager of Southampton and Everton. Interestingly, his first game as Netherlands boss was a 1-0 friendly defeat to England in 2018. But he got his revenge in the last meeting between the two countries in the 2019 Nations League semi-final, which ended 3-1 to the Dutch after extra-time. This is Koeman's second spell as Netherlands boss.
Before the tournament, captain and towering centre-back Virgil van Dijk was considered the Dutch's best asset. But at Euro 2024, Liverpool star Cody Gakpo has stolen the spotlight. The speedy forward may not have always looked comfortable at Anfield, but he has come alive on the international stage. With three goals under his belt, he is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot. Former Manchester United assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has praised Gakpo's performances, stating that he has played with a lot of confidence and compared him to Dutch legend Arjen Robben.
Koeman has tinkered around with his side throughout the Euros, but it seems like he has finally settled on an XI. The highlight is an imperious defence featuring Van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, Nathan Ake, and Denzel Dumfries. Gakpo will start on the left-wing, but there are other attacking threats to be wary of. Xavi Simons has the potential to cause problems for England, and there are also impact players like Donyell Malen, Jeremie Frimpong, and Steven Bergwijn. Meulensteen hopes that Malen will be given a chance to play, as he has a change of pace and can come inside or outside. He also believes that Bergwijn's role is to release Dumfries on the right-hand side, and if he can run forward, he can cause problems.
Despite their strong defence and talented forward line, the Netherlands also has weaknesses. Man-to-man, England may be stronger, but they have lacked cohesion and an effective tactical set-up. However, there were signs of improvement in their quarter-final match, and with the Netherlands unlikely to sit deep, they may have more freedom to utilise their impressive attacking talent. Additionally, the Dutch have struggled with finishing at times during the Euros. If Southgate can come up with a plan to stop Gakpo, it could give England the edge. Meulensteen notes that Turkey managed to deal with Gakpo by doubling up on him, so England should look to counterattack with overlapping runs to give Gakpo options. The battle between Gakpo and England's Kyle Walker will be one to watch.
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