Between England and the Netherlands, the clash of the eternally cursed for a place in the final

Major nations in world football, England and the Netherlands have a reputation as cursed teams, for various reasons. And each wants to put an end to it on the occasion of this semi-final of Euro 2024.

In 1990, Gary Lineker explained that “Football is a sport played 11 against 11, and in the end, Germany wins”. If he has since taken up his famous quote by replacing the Germans with the Blues, the former English player could have completed it thus: “And in the end, it’s the Netherlands and England who lose”as these two nations, who face each other on Wednesday July 10 (9 p.m.) in the semi-final of the Euro, have experienced their share of disappointments.

Often announced as favourites, but systematically beaten, the English have only won one trophy in their entire history: the 1966 World Cup, at home. Since then, despite often bloated squads and despite the all-powerful English championship, the Three Lions have never brought football home, as their song says. A drought that could end this year, while the English have been progressing since 2018.

Accustomed to incredible eliminations and defeats on penalties, they have (finally) broken this glass ceiling in recent years. Semi-finalists of the 2018 World Cup, finalists of Euro 2021 and quarter-finalists of the last World Cup against Les Bleus, they are slowly getting closer to the goal. The proof: this Euro semi-final, the fourth in their history, is the second in a row.

For their part, the Dutch have never been able to shake off their label of magnificent losers, inherited from the 1970s and often maintained since, notably in the final of the 2010 World Cup. Three times finalists in the World Cup (but also third in 2014), the Oranje have often put on a show, without going all the way, apart from the Euro 1988 won on… German soil. After some difficult years (the Dutch missed Euro 2016 and then the 2018 World Cup), they are also back to their level.

Eliminated in the round of 16 of Euro 2021 by the Czech Republic, beaten in the quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup by the future winners Argentina, the Dutch are playing their first semi-final in a major competition in ten years on Wednesday, and the one they lost to Argentina at the 2014 World Cup. At the Euro, this is the sixth time that the Netherlands have reached the last four, for only one qualification, in 1988, the year of their only European title.

This England-Netherlands semi-final will therefore be a clash of the big guns, between two nations that have faced each other 22 times in history for seven Dutch wins, nine draws and six English victories. After Brazil, the Netherlands are thus the opponent who poses the most problems for the Three Lions. Moreover, the English have only beaten the Oranje once in official competition, at Euro 1996 (4-1), against two defeats (3-1 at Euro 1988, 3-1 in the 2019 Nations League) and one draw (0-0 at the 1990 World Cup).

However, it is a very sluggish England that is advancing towards this semi-final. Like Harry Kane, author of two goals in this Euro, but struggling in the game, the English have been in slow motion since the beginning of June and are struggling to assume their status as big favorites. First in their group after a victory and two draws (with two goals scored), England then came close to elimination in the round of 16 against Slovakia (2-1 aet), before winning their quarter-final on penalties against Switzerland (1-1, 5-3 tab).

On the other side, it’s the complete opposite for the Netherlands, who are one of the few exciting teams in this rather dull Euro. Of course, the Dutch finished third in their group after their non-match against Les Bleus and their defeat against Austria. But whether it was against Poland in the group (2-1), Romania in the last 16 (3-0) or Turkey in the quarter-finals (2-1), the Dutch offered a tasty and resolutely offensive game.

The Dutch are relying on seven players from the English championship (plus seven others who have played there), who will therefore know their opponents well. This is particularly the case for Cody Gakpo, Liverpool’s striker, who has been sparkling since the start of this Euro, but also for Bart Verbruggen. At 21, the Brighton goalkeeper, who has only been in the Dutch goal for a few months, has been decisive in each match, donning the costume of last line of defence left vacant since Edwin van der Sar retired in 2008.

This orange wall will not be the only one to stand against the English on Wednesday evening, since 75,000 Dutch people are expected in Dortmund, including nearly 10,000 at the stadium, in the famous, usually yellow stand of the Westfallenstadion. It is in this hostile context that England, as often harshly criticized by the national press, will finally have to raise its level of play to reach the final. For this to happen, the stars (Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane…) will have to shine together.