DORTMUND, Germany – England have their first ever significant tournament final on foreign soil within reach in Wednesday’s Euro 2024 semi-final when they face a Netherlands team finding their form in Dortmund.
The Three Lions aim to replicate their run to the Euro 2020 final, where they were defeated in a heart-breaking penalty shootout against Italy at Wembley.
England’s only significant tournament victory also occurred on home soil at the 1966 World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s squad is determined to end 58 years of disappointment and have shown remarkable resilience, if not the expected quality of one of the pre-tournament favorites, in Germany.
Twice England have faced the threat of an early exit but fought back against Slovakia and Switzerland to reach the semi-finals.
Brilliant individual moments from Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka have kept them in the tournament with late equalizers before defeating Slovakia in extra-time and Switzerland on penalties.
These were glimpses of the individual talent available to Southgate, who has staunchly defended his record, despite his team not reaching top form in the tournament so far.
Under Southgate, England are now in a third semi-final in four major tournaments – matching the three semi-finals they had reached in their history prior to his appointment eight years ago.
This has not protected the 53-year-old from criticism. Southgate was pelted with beer cups after a 0-0 draw against Slovenia in the group stages and has faced backlash for his perceived negative tactics with a highly-talented squad.
“I can’t deny that when things get as personal as they have, it does hurt. I don’t think it’s normal to have beer thrown at you,” said Southgate of his critics.
“But we’re in a third semi-final in four tournaments, and I think we continue to give people fantastic memories.”
A change of formation for the 1-1 draw against Switzerland led to a slightly improved performance from the dramatic win over a Slovakia team ranked 45th in the world.
Southgate is expected to stick with the 3-4-2-1 system with Marc Guehi returning from suspension to replace Ezri Konsa.
The England manager has bristled at suggestions that his team ended up on the favorable side of the draw, avoiding France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal.
Yet, the Dutch can consider themselves even more fortunate for their path to the final after finishing third in Group D behind France and Austria.
Ronald Koeman’s team produced their best performance of the tournament in a 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16 before coming from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 in front of a hostile crowd in Berlin.
Facing several Premier League stars will not intimidate the Netherlands, who have their own impressive group of players competing in England’s top league.
“If you see the quality of players from both teams, you can expect the rhythm and level of the game will be really high,” said Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo has arguably been the standout attacker at the tournament and is the only player to have scored three goals still in the competition.
The Dutch have waited 36 years since their only significant tournament victory, the last time the Euros were held in Germany.
That is also the only time they have ever reached a European Championship final. But they will fancy their chances of being in Berlin on Sunday unless England suddenly find their top form.
