The road to the Euro 2024 final has been a bumpy one for both the Netherlands and England. Their semifinal clash in Dortmund promises an intriguing encounter, with both sides needing a significant uptick in quality to reach the final.
England’s dramatic penalty shootout victory over Switzerland brought temporary euphoria, but it felt more like relief than redemption. Their Wednesday date with the Dutch may require a transformation in attack if they are to reach their third major tournament final, where they could potentially face either France or Spain.
England has limped into the last four with lackluster performances against opponents they should have comfortably dispatched. Meanwhile, the Netherlands has experienced a rollercoaster ride throughout the tournament, narrowly avoiding elimination in their quarterfinal clash against Turkey before staging a late comeback.
The Netherlands holds the advantage in attack, having scored nine goals from 20 attempts on target at Euro 2024, compared to England’s 15 attempts yielding only five goals. While Harry Kane, Phil Foden, and Jude Bellingham usually spearhead England’s attack, their effectiveness has been muted in the tournament so far.
Ahead of this pivotal encounter, here’s a predicted starting lineup for both teams:
Netherlands:
Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Simons, Reijnders; Malen, Depay, GakpoEngland:
Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Mainoo, Rice, Shaw; Bellingham, Foden; KaneThe match promises to be a tense affair with both teams desperate to secure a place in the final. It remains to be seen whether either side can rediscover their form and find the spark needed to propel them to victory.
