Gary Neville says England need to find another level in Euro 2024 semi vs Netherlands

Former England defender Gary Neville feels Gareth Southgate’s troops will need to ‘step up’ their performance levels if they are to beat the Netherlands in Wednesday’s Euro 2024 semi-final.

The Three Lions finally showed some bite in Saturday’s quarter-final clash with Switzerland, once again coming from behind to force extra time, as they did against Slovakia.

Bukayo Saka capped a man-of-the-match display with a goal and a penalty as England won a spot-kick shootout, netting all five penalties with confidence.

Southgate switched to a back three with wingbacks, and the team seemed far happier with the new formation, but still found themselves under pressure from the Swiss, especially in the second half.

The Netherlands displayed their own resilience by recovering from 1-0 down to beat Turkey 2-1, and they now stand in the path of England’s bid to reach the final, where the winners of France vs Spain will be waiting.

And Neville says Southgate’s men need to find another gear if they are to overcome Virgil van Dijk and company, telling Sky Sports: “Saturday was definitely a step up in terms of our balance, it was a progression forward, now we have to step up again against Netherlands on Wednesday - and we'll have to step up quite a bit because they have some serious players.

"Are we going to get caught out? Are our performance levels good enough? But we're only two games away from absolute utopia.”

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The ex Manchester United right-back added: “This team has tournament know-how, they get to semi-finals. There's fortune along the way with the draw - we've played Serbia, Denmark, Slovenia, Slovakia and Switzerland.

“If you said you'd get those five teams in a major tournament you'd be very happy.

"We haven't played at our best but it's a tournament that seems to be moving that way.

“Spain have played some fantastic football but the other teams have been quite unspectacular but getting through. The Dutch, France - the tournament favourites - have not been at their best.

"It's a good sign for a team, you have to get through difficult matches - but you can't normally rely on that all the time.

“My feeling is you'll get caught out eventually if you don't step up your performance level.”

The bookies rate the Netherlands as a 2/1 chance to win the game, with England 6/4 and the draw priced at an enticing 19/10.

Football matches between England and the Netherlands have seen a mix of competitive and friendly encounters, featuring memorable moments and notable performances.

Here, Sports News Blitz gives an overview of some key aspects of their footballing history:

Early Encounters

The first official match between England and Netherlands took place on December 1, 1946. It was a friendly match held in Amsterdam, which England won 8-2.

Competitions

England and the Netherlands have faced each other in various competitions, including World Cup qualifiers, UEFA European Championship matches, and the UEFA Nations League.

Notable Matches

UEFA Euro 1996:

The teams met during the group stage of the tournament held in England. England defeated the Netherlands 4-1 in a memorable match at Wembley Stadium. Goals from Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham highlighted England's performance, with the victory ensuring their progress to the knockout stages.

UEFA Euro 1988:

The Netherlands triumphed over England 3-1 in a group stage match. Dutch forward Marco van Basten scored a hat-trick, a performance that is still remembered as one of the greatest in European Championship history.

UEFA Nations League 2019:

The two sides met in the semi-finals of the inaugural UEFA Nations League. The Netherlands won 3-1 after extra time, with goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Quincy Promes, along with an own goal by Kyle Walker.

The match was notable for the tactical battle and the dramatic nature of extra time.

Overall Record

As of July 2024, the teams have met 23 times. The record shows a competitive balance, reflecting the footballing strength of both nations. Here’s a brief summary:

Total Matches: 23

England Wins: 8

Netherlands Wins: 7

Draws: 8

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