Netherlands vs England: Rivalry Watch | Euro 2024 semi-final

The Dutch slightly edged England in their previous meetings in history.

England who were the favourites to win Euro 2024 before the tournament began now seem to have penetrated into the semi-finals after a lacklustre display in their group stages. They somehow found the back of the net just before the referee was about to blow his final whistle in both their knockout fixtures against Slovakia and Switzerland. The runners-up of Euro 2020 will face a formidable opponent in the Netherlands, who have a slightly better record over England in their previous encounters.

Netherlands, on the other hand, were placed in a tough group alongside Austria, France, and Poland. Despite a not-so-impressive performance in the group stages, Oranje seem to have gained momentum at the right time. They thrashed group winners Romania 3-0 in the Round of 16 and narrowly edged past Turkey in the quarter-finals to seal their semi-final berth against England, who are familiar opponents for the Dutch as they have previously met 22 times in all competitions.

Rivalry Overview

In this feature, we deep dive into the rivalry between England and the Netherlands over the course of nearly nine decades of footballing history. But before we begin, a fun fact: eight Dutch players in the Netherlands squad currently play for English sides in the Premier League, with one of them wearing the captain’s armband for English giants, Liverpool, as well as his country.

Head-to-Head Record

Total matches: 22

Netherlands wins: 7

England wins: 6

Draws: 9

For England fans, these statistics might not be encouraging. Of all the nations England have faced 20+ times in their history, they have the second-worst win rate against the Netherlands (27%), with Brazil occupying the first position (15%).

Historical Background

England and the Netherlands are among the oldest football-playing nations in the world, with a rich heritage, legacy, and passion for this beautiful sport. Oranje was established in 1889, while England is possibly the oldest national team in the world, founded more than 150 years ago in 1863.

Also read: Netherlands vs England Predicted lineup, betting tips, odds, injury news, H2H, telecast | UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final

Early Encounters

England and the Netherlands locked horns for the first time in 1935, 23 years before the inception of the Euros. The first match went England’s way with the English side winning 1-0. England were dominant in their initial years, and it took the Oranje 42 years to taste their first victory against them in 1977.

1988 Euros

In the 1988 Euros, the Netherlands and England met for the first time in a major competition. Holland thrashed England 3-1 in their group stage match, with Marco van Basten netting a hat-trick. England were eliminated from the tournament in a humiliating manner after failing to secure even a single point, losing three consecutive games. The Dutch not only reached the semi-finals but also won the Euros for the first time, securing their first major trophy after a century of existence.

Dutch Influence in the Premier League

By the early 90s, Dutch influence in the English Premier League began as Hans Segers and Michel Vonk lined up for Wimbledon and Manchester City respectively on the opening weekend of the inaugural Premier League season. Arsenal and Manchester United superstar Robin van Persie scored 144 goals in the English Premier League, making him the highest Dutch goalscorer in the competition.

Arsenal fans in England were so fascinated with League’s top Dutch legend, Dennis Bergkamp, that when he wore the orange jersey to play against England, fans faced a dilemma whether to cheer for their club legend or their country. So far, a total of 133 Dutch players have featured in the Premier League, with eight of them in the current Dutch Euro 2024 squad.

Also read: Netherlands vs England: All-time head-to-head record | Euro 2024 semi-finals

FIFA World Cup 1990 and 1993 Qualifiers

After a humiliating 1988 campaign, England sought revenge when they met the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup 1990, ending in a goalless draw. They met twice in 1993 for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The Dutch settled for a draw in the first fixture, with Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp scoring against his adopted club country, England. Things worsened for the Three Lions when, after six months, the Dutch beat England 2-0 to secure their place in the FIFA World Cup 1994.

Euro 1996 Revenge

English fans finally had their revenge when a 77,000-strong crowd gathered at Wembley to watch England thrash Holland. Two goals from Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer saw them triumph over the Netherlands on home soil. The home side reached the semi-finals, where they were narrowly knocked out by the Germans on penalties.

Recent Encounters

The last encounter between the English side and Oranje was in June 2019 at the UEFA Nations League. Marcus Rashford gave a slight lead to the Three Lions, but a finish from Matthijs de Ligt nullified the lead, taking the match to extra time. Two awful defensive errors saw the Netherlands thrashing England 3-1 after an own goal from Kyle Walker.

Eredivisie Influence

The Dutch top division Eredivisie also saw a recent influx of English footballers, including goalkeeper Jordan Henderson from Ajax, Adrian Blake from Utrecht, and Derry Murkin from Volendam.

Conclusion

Overall, the Netherlands vs. England fixture has been one of the most entertaining and mouth-watering clashes in football history, with both teams fighting neck-to-neck. The Netherlands holds a slightly better record against England. Destiny has destined two of the oldest footballing nations on the planet to lock horns in the semi-finals of Euro 2024, in what could be an expedition to conquer Europe. Stay tuned, as Wednesday’s clash could add a whole new dimension to this fierce rivalry.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.