England vs. Netherlands upcoming match is one of the most widely talked about of the entire UEFA Euro 2024 competition. The Euros have been a bit lackluster at times, with low-scoring games and draws, but the semi-finals is showing a lot of promise after England’s dramatic penalty win against the Swiss team last week.
And the Netherlands aren’t going down without a fight. Both teams have shown moments of absolutely beautiful football, and both have shown a lack of focus and consistency that are sure to make for an entertaining game.
England: Players to Watch
Some of the best places to keep an eye on in this upcoming semifinal game that will make an impact on the final score include Jude Bellingham, the Player of the Year for Real Madrid in La Liga, Saka, the young and energetic winger who had a fantastic last game against Switzerland, and Foden, the creative winger who was the Premier League Player of the Season for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side this past year.
Jude Bellingham has had a relatively quiet tournament, despite the bicycle kick that saw England rescue a few crucial points during the Group stages. However, getting subbed out prematurely in past games and a lack of cohesiveness with the midfield has proven to be a problem for Bellingham, as he has not had the impact that he did for his Spanish side during the club season in 2023-2024.
Furthermore, Foden is experiencing a similar issue. For the Premier League this past year, he was electric — he showed his technical ability, scored numerous goals, assisted his teammates, and tore up the wing with his speed and finesse on the ball. But, for Southgate’s England side, he has been quiet and uninvolved in this tournament. Foden will have to be back at his best in Southgate’s team to make the influence required for England to win the semifinal.
Lastly, Saka, the speedy and tenacious winger who enjoys taking players on 1v1, will have to continue his brilliance. He is one of the few England players who has done well the entire tournament, especially last game where his solo goal helped the team progress to the penalties, where he slotted home the third penalty to help the team win and progress to the semifinals.
Netherlands: Players to Watch
For the Netherlands, players to keep your eye on include van Dijk, the stalwart in the back line, Simons, the young and creative midfielder who currently plays for PSG in Ligue 1, and van de Ven, van Dijk’s partner in the back line.
Van Dijk is arguably one of the best defenders of the entire generation, helping Liverpool and the Dutch team to win games that were previously thought impossible. With his strong tackles, a bit in the air, and 1v1 defending, he has made players like Mbappe and Kane look slow as he takes the ball from them and distributes it to his teammates.
Simons is a creative midfielder who is currently sought after on the transfer market for numerous clubs in Europe. If he can have a good semi-final match, we could see him making a move to a Bundesliga team for the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
Finally, van de Ven has stood out during the Euro 2024 tournament, proving just how big of a threat he is on set pieces and how his partnership with van Dijk has made it nearly impossible for number 9s to beat this duo on the dribble.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
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