The Netherlands and England will face off once more in a major tournament, both teams hoping to advance to the final. Whoever emerges victorious here will go on to meet either France or Spain in the final.
Jerdy Schouten and Tijjani Reijnders should provide an effective midfield pairing, with their ability to transition play and create offensive opportunities proving vital.
In this article, we will discuss the main points of Netherlands National Football Team vs England National Football Team Lineups.
Midfield: Jerdy Schouten
The Netherlands national football team is widely revered, and their rivalry with England is always exciting. Both sides boast world-class players and clever strategies – creating memorable matches that delight fans; this semi-final will certainly not disappoint.
At Euro 2024, both teams are competing to make it to the final, which will determine who faces Spain in the final matchup. This match-up features some of the finest talent in European football; expect a thrilling encounter.
Though they have an uneven history with England, the Dutch remain optimistic of reaching the final. Their team boasts both talent and experienced players with impressive recent performances; not to mention they possess an ability to come back from behind against more conservative opposition like England.
Ronald Koeman will likely employ the same starting lineup that has proven so successful over their first four matches, featuring Virgil Van Dijk at center back and Tijjani Reijnders in midfield as support. Unfortunately for Ronald Koeman’s side Steven Bergwijn has yet to establish himself in their starting XI and could give way to Donyell Malen as right wing option.
Gareth Southgate has several options on the left side, but may opt to start Kieran Trippier and Bukayo Saka as regular starters against Switzerland in their opening match. Luke Shaw will return after recovering from hamstring injury but likely won’t start in Dortmund; although Manchester United defender insists he is physically ready, Southgate may give him additional time to build up fitness levels before playing him in Dortmund.
Phil Foden will play an instrumental role in breaking down the Dutch defense with his creativity and technical ability, Harry Kane (Bayern Munich striker with goal scoring ability). Memphis Depay poses another threat who’s pace and flair can exploit any weaknesses in England’s defensive set-up.
Attack: Tijjani Reijnders
Tijjani Reijnders is one of the most intriguing young players in world football. A versatile central midfielder with the ability to switch positions and play offensively as needed. His silky smooth ball control, dribbling skills, and passing abilities pose a threat against any defense.
Reijnders began his professional career with hometown club PEC Zwolle’s youth squad before making the step to their first-team in 2023. Although only playing one season with PEC Zwolle in Eredivisie competition, his talent quickly attracted top clubs across Europe; Reijnders moved to AC Milan via an estimated EUR20 million transfer and has excelled ever since joining AC Milan this season.
Ronald Koeman, known for his emphasis on attacking football, boasts an arsenal of attacking players that can exploit England’s fragile defense. Virgil van Dijk will captain his defense with Jerdy Schouten providing anchorage in midfield; Memphis Depay’s creativity and clinical finishing poses a great threat against England; Manchester City Daley Blind will add depth in midfield while Frenkie de Jong and Donyell Malen can cover wide areas.
Koeman will likely field the same XI that helped win against Switzerland in the quarter-final. Manchester United’s Luke Shaw should remain central in his backline while Kieran Trippier remains on the left wing; Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi may join as another solid defensive presence and tackler.
England’s recent victories have given them confidence heading into their semi-final match with Netherlands. Gareth Southgate has implemented an approach characterized by flexibility and pragmatism that gives his squad the potential to capitalize on any mistakes committed by Dutch defense players such as Cody Gakpo or Memphis Depay – though keeping discipline within their defense will limit Oranje chances.
Defense: Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool defender Joel Matip has been an invaluable ally this season as they navigated numerous high-stakes matches and battled for top spots in both Premier League and Champions League competition. Additionally, his role for Netherlands will also be critical, and will play an integral part against England in setting the tempo of play and dominating dead-ball situations – capabilities he will share with Matthijs de Ligt in their battle for dominance at centerback for their side.
Virgil van Dijk is one of the premier defenders in the world, and his performance for Netherlands this summer has been nothing short of outstanding. He kept two clean sheets out of three games played for Netherlands this summer, providing leadership that could propel them towards reaching semifinals.
Van Dijk stands out among his counterparts with his unmatched defensive intelligence, reading the game to anticipate attacks and anticipate opponents’ moves with ease. His line control skills are also exceptional and can leverage both strength and speed against any opponent.
Though he leads the Netherlands’ defense, some critics have pointed out his lack of initiative on the ball, which seems strange for such a highly-rated player. Former Holland coach Louis van Basten stated that Van Dijk “always takes the safe route” without much attacking intent; this is an unfair assessment of his talents.
Van Dijk played an instrumental role in helping his teammates break through Switzerland’s resistance, controlling the backline and helping to clear lines with ease. This will be vital as the Netherlands bids to reach France for the final.
Marc Guehi, John Stones, and Kieran Trippier will form part of the Netherlands defense alongside Kieran Trippier; their combined experience should prove vital in stopping England’s attack. Unfortunately for them though, England may pose challenges in terms of counterattack speed which might make the task even harder for their opponent’s defense.
Goalkeeper: Mark Flekken
The Netherlands and England are two of the biggest names in international football, boasting teams comprised of players who can make an impactful statement in every match they play. Their rivalry provides football fans with a chance to witness some of the finest tactical maneuvers and personal displays of talent imaginable – while recent duels between these sides have demonstrated how each has different approaches towards possession and flair versus directness that often differ between matches.
Mark Flekken is an incredible goalkeeper who has taken every opportunity to showcase his skills on a high level. His story serves as testament to perseverance and adaptation; starting in small-town Netherlands youth teams, where Flekken sharpened his craft before entering Roda JC Kerkrade youth academy where his dedication and persistence saw him progress quickly through its ranks and establish himself as an elite player.
Flekken showed his skill and poise during a match against Scotland, deflecting multiple shots including Ryan Christie’s header when the score was tied at 0-0. His save earned widespread applause and became one of the highlights of the tournament; yet, Flekken remains grounded, viewing this match-up as preparation for next summer’s European Championship and attributing his success to teamwork and continuous improvement.
Flekken has established himself as one of the Oranje’s standout defensive performers, tallying 10 Bundesliga clean sheets in 2021-22 and earning his debut senior national team cap. Now undisputedly No.1 at SC Freiburg and one of the country’s premier goalkeepers.
Though the Dutch possess numerous weapons for attack, they could benefit from greater clinical finishing. Daley Blind’s versatility, Frenkie de Jong’s transition from defense to offense and Memphis Depay’s speed should all present opportunities for scoring goals. Furthermore, RB Leipzig striker Xavi Simons adds another attacking presence with creative touches that can break open any defense.