Netherlands 1-2 England

Euro 2024/Semi Finals

MOTM: Ollie Watkins

Other standout performances include: John Stones, Kyle Walker and Phil Foden

Notable Stats:

• England are the first side in UEFA Euros history to reach the final despite trailing in both the quarter-final and semi final en route.

• Ollie Watkins has scored only the second ever 90th minute winning goal in a UEFA European Championship knockout tie.

• Harry Kane has more knockout stage goals in major tournaments than any other European player (9). Gerd Muller, Miroslav Klose, Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe all remain behind on 8 goals.

• Gareth Southgate is the first England manager to reach two major tournament finals.

Match Stats:

• xG: 0.59 - 1.35

• xThreat: 1.15 - 1.08

• Possession: 41.4% - 58.6%

• Field Tilt: 35.5% - 64.5%

• Penalty Box Shots: 6 - 5

• Deep Completions: 7 - 8

• PPDA: 16.8 - 13.0

• High Turnovers: 0 - 1

• 10+ Pass Sequences: 17 - 25

England Return to the Euro Final

This was the first half that everyone was hoping to see from England in the tournament. Controlling the game with their overloads in the midfield, the Netherlands struggled to find any answers until the second half.

Both sides have had their struggles tactically in this tournament. England stuck with their 3-4-3 setup from the previous match against Switzerland and the Netherlands opted for a 4-2-3-1.

Marc Guehi came back into the team for Ezri Konsa.

The Netherlands scored early in the first half, against the run of play after Xavi Simons (7’) took the ball off Declan Rice. Turning and driving towards the goal.

An incredible finish from outside the box to the top left corner.

We saw throughout the first half how much the Netherlands struggled in midfield against England. Schouten and Reijnders outnumbered by Mainoo, Rice, Foden and Bellingham coming into those spaces. Far more fluidly than we’ve seen in previous games.

Rice remaining deeper on the left side as Foden/Mainoo would move into advanced areas for passes between the lines. Kyle Walker was working well with Saka down the right side to offer an overlap and coming inside when need be.

England was awarded a penalty not long after the Netherlands goal with this foul on Harry Kane by Dumfries.

Kane (18’) stepping up to take the penalty and finish in the bottom left corner which puts England 1-0 up. He’s now joint top scorer in Euro 2024.

Phil Foden had an excellent performance in this game and these two chances were the culmination of that. Put through on goal by Mainoo only for his shot to be cleared off the line.

This shot from Foden is something we’ve seen all season long at Manchester City, finding space outside the box as Saka draws players into him on the flank. Hitting the post with what could have been a very similar goal to what Yamal scored the night before.

England had their best first half performance of the tournament against the Netherlands which you can see from the passing map by StatsBomb below. It wasn’t just circulating the ball across the back line either.

Here is the passing maps for both teams during the game. England for the first 49 minutes showing how fluid they were in possession, compared to previous matches. Phil Foden and Kobbie Mainoo linking up so well in midfield. They just lacked the players to stretch in-behind the Netherlands back-line, until the second half…

Memphis Depay came off just before the end of the first half and was replaced by Joey Veerman. Blessing in disguise that helped solve their midfield issues to a degree. Moving the Netherlands to more of a 3-box-3 shape in possession. Schouten and Reijnders then had a far easier job of tracking Foden/Bellingham.

Defensive work of Saka across the pitch to cover Reijnders in the half-space, Gakpo when England are in a low block and track Depay when England press man-to-man was fantastic. Worked very well alongside Kyle Walker to shutdown the left side of the Netherlands.

Preventing Cody Gakpo from being a threat was key to winning this match for England. He’s been a crucial player in the final third for the Netherlands this tournament. Against England Gakpo didn’t have a single shot on goal due to the work of Kyle Walker, Bukayo Saka and John Stones.

England thought they had the winner from Bukayo Saka but it was called offside. The cagey approach from both teams in the second half, with everything on the line, continued until Southgate made his late changes. Two bold calls with Watkins on for Kane and Palmer on for Foden. Not long after that the two players link up for the winning goal.

Cole Palmer picks out the run of Ollie Watkins in behind De Vrij.

Watkins (90’) then protects the ball, turns and shoots across the goal to the far corner. Through the legs of De Vrij. Scoring the 90th minute winner that takes England to another Euro final.

You can go back through his career and find a number of similar goals. As Watkins said after the match “The goal, that is my bread and butter”.

England have faced criticism throughout the tournament on their performances and whether they will be caught out. Against the Netherlands was that performance everyone was waiting to see.

Decision making of players on the pitch was crucial to managing the game into the second half as the Netherlands made adjustments and Southgate praised them post match for it.

Without a doubt England played their best game of the tournament against the Netherlands. In the first half they was in control as we saw some impressive link up between Foden and Mainoo. Showing defensive reliance in the second half and the substitutes found the winner for England. Luke Shaw returning in the second half and finishing the match is great news, possibly solving their left side struggles.

Spain pose a different threat and will test England’s defense. The resilience in the second half will be needed for ninety minutes against Spain if they are to have any chance of lifting the trophy.

As brilliant as Spain have played during this tournament there are still opportunities for England to hurt them in the final. Spaces in transition that France and Germany failed to capitalize on…

England will now take on Spain in the final of Euro 2024 on July 14th, 20:00 GMT.

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