DORTMUND, Germany — The route to the last four of Euro 2024 has been a rocky one for the Netherlands and England, and a few flashes of their best quality in their semi-final showdown might be enough for either side to make the final.
England’s shootout win over Switzerland brought momentary euphoria, but it was more relief than redemption and Wednesday’s date with the Dutch in Dortmund may require a transformation in attack for them to reach a third major tournament final, against France or Spain.
England has limped into the last four with tepid performances against opponents they should on paper have beaten easily, while the Netherlands has yo-yoed through and were 20 minutes from elimination before their quarter-final fightback against Turkey.
The Dutch dazzled in their last-eight rout of Romania but have had to scramble too, having fallen behind in three of their four scoring games, Reuters reported.
Their three wins were all in regulation time, however, compared to one for England, and the Dutch have scored nearly double their number of goals at the tournament.
The Netherlands has the edge in attack, their nine goals at Euro 2024 coming from 20 attempts on target against 15 by an England side spearheaded by the usually lethal but currently subdued Harry Kane, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham.
England improved against the Swiss but their five expertly struck penalties rescued an attack that again looked frustrated, with Bukayo Saka’s 80th-minute equaliser their first shot on target.
Netherlands do not have that problem and will bank on the tournament’s joint top scorer Cody Gakpo to and trouble an England defence that has been solid in contract with their jaded attack.
England manager Gareth Southgate declined to discuss the Dutch after his side’s win over Switzerland, keeping media attention squarely on his players’ resilience in handling the intensity of penalties.
England’s troubles in front of goal were during matches he said were not normal, against crowded defences determined to stop them.
“These are national events with huge pressure, with really young men in the middle of it. Our team has been under enormous pressure from the start. They’re doing so well. So well,” Southgate said.
“We’re not able to score a load of goals at the moment. But again, we’ve played three teams that play back fives, very well organised defences.”
Southgate is again expected to stick to a similar lineup having been impervious to calls to shake things up or make substitutions earlier during the tournament.
England has reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 following a dramatic penalty shootout victory against Switzerland.
A late strike from Bukayo Saka cancelled out Breel Embolo’s opener before the Three Lions scored all of their penalties, with Jordan Pickford the hero following his save from Manuel Akanji.
The Dutch have blown hot and cold and will need to be stronger at the back to stand any chance of reaching their first final since their 1988 Euros triumph, their only major tournament success.
Austria and Turkey exploited Dutch defensive disorganisation at set-pieces and England will try to do the same.
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has also received criticism, hitting back at pundits who questioned his team’s commitment and saying his players showed a big heart in coming from behind to beat Turkey.
“We need to fight to win the semi-final,” Koeman said. “It will be a great night on Wednesday between two big nations historically. England has good players, but we have too.”
Netherlands desperately needed the attacking quality of Cody Gakpo to edge past Turkey in the Euro 2024 quarter-final, with the forward forcing an own goal by the Turks to get them out of trouble and into the last four.
For much of the game nothing was going their way with Turkey taking the lead and controlling proceedings before an equaliser from Stefan De Vrij in the 70th minute.
But it was Gakpo’s drive towards the goal in the 76th minute, sprinting in at the far post to connect with a low cross and with Turkey’s Mert Muldur who sent the ball into his own net that put the Dutch into the last four where they will face England.
The 25-year-old forward has been the Netherlands’ lifeline in this tournament with three goals in five games, Reuters reported.
Even if Saturday’s second goal was not credited to Gakpo and given as an own goal, Ronald Koeman’s team would not be anywhere near a potential shot at their first European title since 1988 without his finishing.
Gakpo also scored the first goal in their 3-0 last-16 win over Romania before Donyell Malen added two more, and he netted twice more in the group stage, both times scoring his side’s first goal. He has also made one assist.
But on Saturday it was his most important contribution yet when he forced the Turkish own goal as Netherlands came from a goal down to earn victory.
