What a game we had yesterday, with a first half that had it all. Today, we turn our attention to tonight's match: Netherlands vs. England. This match promises to be just as thrilling as yesterday's encounter. Both teams are dreaming of "it's coming home" – England hoping for their first trophy since 1966 and the Netherlands since 1988.
The Netherlands staged a dramatic second-half comeback to defeat Turkey 2-1 and advance to the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Trailing at halftime after Samet Akaydin's 35th-minute header, the Dutch turned the game around with the introduction of Wout Weghorst at the break. Weghorst's impact was immediate, providing a crucial defensive clearance and setting up attacking plays. Stefan de Vrij equalized in the 70th minute with a powerful header from a Memphis Depay cross. Six minutes later, pressure from Cody Gakpo led to an own goal by Turkey's Mert Muldur. Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen made several key saves, including a crucial stop in added time. The victory secured the Netherlands' first European Championship semi-final in 20 years.
The last time the Netherlands reached a European Championship final was in 1988, also in Germany, albeit West Germany back then, where they triumphed over the Soviet Union. Now, the nation is hoping for a repeat of that success. Although the road to the semi-finals hasn't been straightforward for Koeman and his players, they can enter their first match as underdogs, which brings a sense of calm knowing the pressure is on the Brits.
Ronald Koeman has his entire squad available and has hinted that Weghorst might start alongside Depay, although this seems unlikely given Weghorst's impact off the bench. The only position with a questionmark appears to be the right-winger, as Bergwijn did not impress in the last game, and Koeman might test Malen again to exploit his speed against Trippier. The defense and midfield seem well-established at this point. It feels like Koeman has focused on defensive drills recently, as that has been the most disjointed part of the team, and it must be solid against England.
England advanced to the Euro 2024 semi-finals with a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory over Switzerland following a 1-1 draw. Jordan Pickford's crucial save from Manuel Akanji's spot-kick proved decisive. Trent Alexander-Arnold, a late substitute, scored the winning penalty after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Ivan Toney successfully converted theirs. Switzerland took the lead in the 75th minute through Breel Embolo, but Saka equalized with a brilliant strike shortly after. Despite heart-stopping moments in extra time, including a shot off the woodwork by Xherdan Shaqiri, England held their nerve. Gareth Southgate's side showed resilience despite another challenging match. Saka, who missed a crucial penalty in Euro 2020, redeemed himself with a stellar performance and successful spot-kick.
England has struggled throughout this tournament, looking tired from the start. Yet, individual brilliance has repeatedly saved Southgate. If he were a cat, you'd wonder if he's used up 8 or 9 lives by now. The criticism back home has been relentless, but it seems to roll off Southgate like water off a duck's back as he continues to get the most out of his squad.
Southgate has no suspensions or injuries to worry about, giving him a full squad at his disposal. Guehi, who was suspended last match, is available and likely to slot right back into the lineup. Southgate also brought on Shaw, indicating his availability, although I believe he will stick with Trippier. Youngster Mainoo is also expected to continue after his impressive performance last time out. For England to advance tonight, several players who have had anonymous performances must step up and start delivering. Players like Kane and Foden know that much of the blame will fall on them if they have another quiet game.
Both teams have navigated the tournament with a mix of luck and individual efforts, both showing defensive vulnerabilities but possessing offensive players capable of deciding the match. The Dutch defense sometimes lacks coordination, especially with Dumfries pushing forward, potentially exploitable by Foden's runs. England's backline has also been shaky, with Trippier working hard in an unfamiliar role, now facing either the quick Gakpo or Malen. I believe, just like yesterday, there will be goals. Don’t be surprised if both teams try to decide the match early on, which will create opportunities for both sides. However, given that neither team has played particularly well during the tournament, I expect them to become more cautious as the match progresses. Therefore, betting on both teams to score and the match ending in a draw is appealing at odds of 4.40.
NETHERLANDS VS. ENGLAND
4.40
BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE - YES + DRAW
NETHERLANDS VS. ENGLAND
4.40
BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE - YES + DRAW
