Julius Okorie
Euro 2020 Finalists, England, have their eyes set on reaching successive European Championship finals, as they meet the Netherlands this Wednesday in the second Euro 2024 semi-final.
The Three Lions reached a fourth European Championship semi-final overall by seeing off Switzerland in last week’s quarter-finals, despite trailing to a late Breel Embolo, goal heading towards the final whistle in Dusseldorf.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSouthgate’s 101st game in charge will see England try to become just the sixth team to make consecutive European Championship finals, and a familiar foe stands between them and a place in Sunday’s showpiece in Berlin.
The Three Lions now face a fourth major-tournament meeting with the Netherlands: the Oranje won 3-1 en route to glory at Euro ’88, thanks to a Marco van Basten hat-trick, then a forgettable goalless draw at the 1990 World Cup was followed by a famous 4-1 England win in 1996.
Having won just one of the nations’ last nine meetings in all competitions, the odds are not on the side of England packed with attacking talent but yet to find rhythm or inspire confidence among their fans.
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The most recent of those nine encounters also came in a semi-final, with the Netherlands winning 3-1 after extra time in the UEFA Nations League both Southgate and Ronald Koeman were in the dugouts on that occasion to
Harry Kane was taken off during extra time last weekend, but having since confirmed he was only suffering from cramp, the Three Lions’ record goalscorer will be fit to build on a fine record in the Euros knockout phase: no player has ever scored more times in the elimination rounds (five, level with Antoine Griezmann).
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Kane was on the scoresheet in the Euro 2020 semi-final against Denmark, and only two players have ever scored at this stage of consecutive European Championships – Viktor Ponedelnik and Valentin Ivanov, both for the USSR in 1960 and 1964.
The Netherlands boss, Ronald Koeman, who has just announced that he will stay in post until 2026, has left the door open to the Burnley striker partnering Memphis Depay from the start; however, another impact role from the bench is more probable. Either one or both of Depay and Cody Gakpo have been directly involved in 63.5% of the Oranje’s attempts so far this summer, and six of their nine goals
Due to the contributions of Depay (17 shots, 10 chances created) and Gakpo (13 shots, 11 chances created), the Netherlands are the only team with more than one player in double figures for both shots and chances made at Euro 2024. The question is will the Orange men extend their dominance head to head or will the Three Lions spring a surprise to bridge the gap?
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
