After reaching just one semi-final in the first 56 years of the European Championships, England are potentially one game away from reaching back-to-back continental finals.
The Netherlands stand in the way of a date against Spain or France in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Sunday night.
✅ Semi-final confirmed: Netherlands vs England 🇳🇱🏴#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/5pkADICuPz
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 6, 2024
Current boss Ronald Koeman starred as the Netherlands won Euro 88 – which was also held in Germany – and scored the equaliser as Oranje came from behind to beat the host nation 2-1 in the semi-final. It was the only success in their five previous Euro semi-finals.
The omens are less good on the English side as Gareth Southgate’s most telling contribution to the semi-final of Euro 96 was missing a penalty in England’s semi-final shootout defeat to Germany.
The sides will do battle in Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion on Wednesday at 8pm BST with England seeking to win a semi-final at a major tournament on foreign soil for the first time.
Let’s take a closer look at five key battles which we feel could decide the last-four match, shall we?
🫵😄#EURO2024 | #ENGSUI pic.twitter.com/A00gngCzIJ
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 6, 2024
Rice v Simons
This looks like it could be the key match-up in the middle of the park.
Frenkie De Jong was a big miss for the Netherlands after failing to recover from an ankle injury sustained in March but his play-making responsibility for the Dutch has fallen to 21-year-old Xavi Simons, playing slightly advanced of Jerdy Schouten and AC Milan’s Tijani Reijnders, who has been particularly impressive so far in the Oranje campaign.
Simons has assisted three goals already, putting him level with Spain starlet Lamine Yamal at the top of the tournament standings, and his ability to drift into space and drive forward on the counter attack mean Rice is…
Source link : https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/euro-2024-england-v-netherlands-kane-van-dijk-saka-gakpo-and-the-key-battles-to-watch-in-semi-final/
Author : Alex Hoad
Publish date : 2024-07-09 18:06:54
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