England take on the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the Nations League this Saturday, with the Three Lions in reaching distance of a first piece of competitive silverware since 1966.
After a slow start to their qualifying campaign, Gareth Southgate’s men sealed their place in the finals of the inaugural competition after beating Spain 3-2 away from home before securing a 2-1 comeback win over Croatia.
Standing in between England and a place in the final is a newly rejuvenated Netherlands team that, after failing to make the 2018 World Cup, has rediscovered its form and menace.
Ronald Koeman’s men topped a group featuring France and Germany – the past two winners of the World Cup – and with the likes of Frenkie de Jong, Virgil van Dijk and Matthijs de Light among their ranks, the Netherlands will pose a considerable threat to Southgate’s side.
Although success in the Nations League will do little to alleviate the disappointment of last summer’s World Cup semi-final defeat, victory would offer another reminder of how far this budding England team has come.
1/24 England Nations League finals squad
Who has Gareth Southgate selected for the crunch games?
Getty Images
2/24 Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Action Images via Reuters
3/24 Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Reuters
4/24 Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Action Images via Reuters
5/24 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
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6/24 Ben Chilwell (Leicester City)
AFP/Getty Images
7/24 Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
Joe Gomez of Liverpool during a training session
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
8/24 Michael Keane (Everton)
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9/24 Harry Maguire (Leicester City)
Leicester City defender Harry Maguire is highly sought-after
Reuters
10/24 Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur)
Action Images via Reuters
11/24 John Stones (Manchester City)
PA
12/24 Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
AP
13/24 Ross Barkley (Chelsea)
Getty
14/24 Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Getty Images
15/24 Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
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16/24 Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
REUTERS
17/24 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
REUTERS
18/24 Declan Rice (West Ham)
Action Images via Reuters
19/24 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Spurs struggled after his return
AFP/Getty
20/24 Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
21/24 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Man Utd via Getty Images
22/24 Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Jadon Sancho has enjoyed a fine season for Borussia Dortmund
AP
23/24 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
PA
24/24 Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
Callum Wilson celebrates his second goal
Getty
1/24 England Nations League finals squad
Who has Gareth Southgate selected for the crunch games?
Getty Images
2/24 Jordan Pickford (Everton)
Action Images via Reuters
3/24 Jack Butland (Stoke City)
Reuters
4/24 Tom Heaton (Burnley)
Action Images via Reuters
5/24 Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool)
Getty Images
6/24 Ben Chilwell (Leicester City)
AFP/Getty Images
7/24 Joe Gomez (Liverpool)
Joe Gomez of Liverpool during a training session
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
8/24 Michael Keane (Everton)
Getty
9/24 Harry Maguire (Leicester City)
Leicester City defender Harry Maguire is highly sought-after
Reuters
10/24 Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur)
Action Images via Reuters
11/24 John Stones (Manchester City)
PA
12/24 Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
AP
13/24 Ross Barkley (Chelsea)
Getty
14/24 Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)
Getty Images
15/24 Fabian Delph (Manchester City)
Getty
16/24 Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur)
REUTERS
17/24 Jordan Henderson (Liverpool)
REUTERS
18/24 Declan Rice (West Ham)
Action Images via Reuters
19/24 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Spurs struggled after his return
AFP/Getty
20/24 Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)
21/24 Marcus Rashford (Manchester United)
Man Utd via Getty Images
22/24 Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund)
Jadon Sancho has enjoyed a fine season for Borussia Dortmund
AP
23/24 Raheem Sterling (Manchester City)
PA
24/24 Callum Wilson (Bournemouth)
Callum Wilson celebrates his second goal
Getty
When is it?
England vs Netherlands kicks off at 7.45pm on Thursday 6 June. The match is being staged at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes, Portugal.
How can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football. Coverage starts at 7pm.
Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to stream the match via the SkyGo app.
Predicted line-ups:
England (4-2-1-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Rice, Barkley; Lingard; Sancho, Sterling, Rashford.
Netherlands (4-3-3): Cillessen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, De Ligt, Blind; De Jong, Van de Beek, De Roon; Bergwijn, Babel, Depay.
Prediction: England 1-0 Netherlands
Boasting a side full of young and exciting players, the Netherlands are a team in the ascent. From the imposing presence of the Van Dijk-De Light partnership to the intelligence of De Jong in midfield, Koeman’s men have an abundance of talent at their disposal.
Saturday’s semi-final will prove a major test for Southgate’s men, many of whom head into the match on the back of a long and intense domestic campaign. But given the recent form and momentum of this England side – and with the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jadon Sancho in the form of their lives – there’s no reason why the Three Lions can’t overcome their opponents.
It’ll be a close and cagey affair, but expect England to scrape by in this one.
Odds
Netherlands to win: 21/10
England to win: 29/20
Draw: 11/5
