Good evening everyone! Thank you all for joining us for a Euro 2024 semi-final blockbuster between the
Netherlands and England at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.
With Spain's spot in Sunday's final already secured thanks to their beating of France last night, either Gareth Southgate's men or Ronald Koeman's troops will earn the right to face La Roja with the Henri Delaunay Trophy at stake on Sunday.
While Oranje managed to get the job done in normal time against Turkey in the quarters, England required penalties to see off Switzerland, but all five of their spot kicks were exceptional.
The first whistle will blow in just 30 minutes time, so let's have a rundown of tonight's team news...
ENGLAND XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi; Saka, Rice, Mainoo, Trippier; Bellingham, Foden; Kane
SUBS: Henderson, Ramsdale, Konsa, Dunk, Alexander-Arnold, Shaw, Gallagher, Wharton, Eze, Gomez, Palmer, Bowen, Gordon, Toney, Watkins
NETHERLANDS XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Reijnders; Malen, Simons, Gakpo; Depay
SUBS: Bijlow, Flekken, Bergwijn, Blind, Brobbey, Frimpong, Geertruida, Gravenberch, De Ligt, Maatsen, Veerman, Van de Ven, Weghorst, Wijnaldum, Zirkzee
As expected, just the one change to the England XI tonight, as Marc Guehi comes back in for Ezri Konsa after serving a suspension in the quarter-final win over Switzerland.
Harsh? Perhaps - Konsa was a defensive rock last time out. But Guehi has been outstanding throughout the tournament.
Turns out last night's reports were correct too - Luke Shaw is on the bench as Kieran Trippier starts again at left-back. Or left-wing back. Who knows what system Gareth Southgate will go with?
Now, how about the first record of the evening?
Kobbie Mainoo is now the youngest Englishman ever to start a major tournament semi-final at 19 years and 82 days. And the Manchester United man has well and truly earned it.
As is the case with England, the Netherlands also make just the one change from their semi-final success over Turkey. Donyell Malen replaces ex-Tottenham Hotspur man Steven Bergwijn in attack.
Wout Weghorst is also snubbed again, but expect the towering talisman to come off the bench at some stage.
Speaking of orange-clad attacking threats, the Three Lions backline may have their work cut out to contain
Xavi Simons and Cody Gakpo.
The latter has three goals to his name at Euro 2024 - no player has hit the four-strike mark yet.
Reminder - the victor of Wednesday's semi-final at a rain-soaked Westfalenstadion will face Spain in Sunday's final in Berlin thanks to La Roja's narrow success over France.
How many times have I watched that Lamine Yamal goal today? Quite a few.
The 16-year-old's strike may have just been *slightly* better than Bukayo Saka's against Switzerland, before the Three Lions struck five perfect penalties to banish the 12-yard demons of Euro 2020.
However, not since the opening success over Serbia have they won a game in 90 minutes... so strap in folks. This one may go on for a while.
In contrast, the Netherlands managed to edge out Turkey 2-1 in the last eight, albeit with the help of an own goal after falling behind to the Crescent-Stars.
Victory for Oranje, and a chance at restoring the glory days of 1988 will await for Ronald Koeman, bidding to lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy as both a player and manager.
Tonight's referee is Felix Zwayer, who may not be too happy to see Jude Bellingham, and vice versa.
The England midfielder mentioned Zwayer's implication in a German match-fixing scandal after Borussia Dortmund narrowly lost a Bundesliga thriller to Bayern Munich in 2021.
Just the €40,000 fine for a then-teenage Bellingham back then...
Zwayer looks as stoic as anything in the tunnel, as do the two captains.
The customary pre-game ceremony is well underway, and the two teams are about to emerge.
How are the nerves?
And here they come! England and the Netherlands emerge to a cacophony of cheers at the Signal Iduna Park, which has a notably orange feel to it tonight.
Time for the anthems, with God Save The King first up.
One of the more powerful renditions I've seen from the England XI.
Now the Dutch are bellowing out their anthem. Van Dijk taking it all in, and why wouldn't he?
KICKOFF: THE SECOND EURO 2024 SEMI-FINAL IS UNDERWAY!
England get us going in Dortmund.
Malen immediately tries a run in behind but the Dutchman is caught offside.
Early warning sign though.
England settle into a nice period of possession and Phil Foden wins a free kick off of Jerdy Schouten.
The Manchester City man already making his presence felt in the centre.
CHANCE! The effervescent Simons charges forward on the right and tries to thread a pass into Malen, but Guehi does enough to shield the ball back to Jordan Pickford.
CHANCE! England quickly go down the other end and Saka floats in a cross to the back stick, but Stefan de Vrij is there to clear.
End-to-end very early on.
Kieran Trippier goes for the long ball over the top to Bellingham - back in Dortmund territory - but it rolls harmlessly through to Bart Verbruggen.
GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-0 ENGLAND (SIMONS)
GOAL! AND THAT IS WHAT XAVI SIMONS DOES. THE NETHERLANDS LEAD IN THE SEVENTH MINUTE.
Declan Rice is the guilty party, losing the ball to Simons in a dangerous area, and the Paris Saint-Germain starlet fires in a terrific 20-yard drive into the top corner!
Who would have had Simons out-muscling Rice down before the game? Certainly not me, but that was terrific work from the Dutchman.
England now have a free kick in a promising area as Bellingham is fouled...
Foden takes it but his Manchester City teammate Ake heads clear.
But Saka wins another almost immediately... albeit a bit further out. Positive response.
Trippier takes this one and finds Rice at the back post. The Arsenal man tries to cut back for a teammate but can only find the boot of Van Dijk.
Analysis from Sports Mole football editor Matt Law:"Some strike from Simons, who has struggled to really make his mark this summer, but that was an indication of his quality.
"England had made a positive start, but that is a real setback at this stage. There are more goals in this, though, and the next one has to be for England if they have any ambitions of reaching the final. Euro 2024 has had some underwhelming matches, but this has started very well."
SAVE! HARRY KANE HAS A SHOT!
The Bayern Munich man tests Verbruggen from range, but the Brighton & Hove Albion man saves well down to his right.
SHOT! Kane now fires over the top after a quick break and brilliant work from Saka!
But England want a penalty - their captain is down after a clash with Denzel Dumfries...
ZWAYER IS GOING TO THE SCREEN!
PENALTY! PENALTY FOR ENGLAND!
Dumfries led in with his studs and caught the top of Kane's boot, and the Three Lions have the chance to respond almost immediately!
Kane to take as Dumfries is booked.
GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-1 ENGLAND (KANE)
GOAL! Kane makes no mistake! Verbruggen dives the right way, but Kane's penalty is just too perfect.
England are back on terms, and they deserve it!
There will certainly be some debate about the awarding of the penalty - I initially didn't think it was, but upon seeing a replay, Dumfries did go in with his studs.
England's brilliant response is rewarded.
Kane doing Kane things. For all the criticism, he now has a joint-high three goals at the Euros.
CLOSE! WHAT. A. CLEARANCE!!!!
CLOSE! Mainoo and Foden link up brilliantly as the latter prods the ball towards goal from a tight angle, and his toe-poke beats Verbruggen but Dumfries is there to stop the ball right on the line!
At the risk of jinxing it, this is by far England's best performance at Euro 2024 so far. The Dutch living incredibly dangerously and just unable to contain Southgate's inspired team.
Side note, Kane is now level with Alan Shearer on seven Euros goals for England. And what a penalty it was.
SHOT! The Netherlands go on one of their quick breaks, but a combination of Walker and Guehi denies Malen as the Netherlands win their first corner of the game.
OFF THE BAR! Dumfries is absolutely everywhere tonight!
A Cristiano Ronaldo-esque leap from the right-back and his header clips the top of the bar. Pickford likely had it covered, though.
OFF THE BAR! OH MY GOODNESS!
Foden is invited to shoot on his left foot from 25 yards - a nearly fatal mistake as his curler smacks the upright and goes behind!
Two woodwork hits in two minutes, a Kane penalty and a Simons stunner - this has been an utterly breathless start in Dortmund.
A chance for a breather now, though, as Memphis Depay is down and needs treatment.
NETHERLANDS SUBDepay cannot continue and Koeman sends on PSV midfielder Joey Veerman, signalling a slight change in shape from the Dutchman, whose side have been overrun in midfield thus far.
Bellingham goes down under pressure from Schouten but Zwayer is not interested.
The Netherlands' shape already looks more rigid since the introduction of Veerman. England now reverting to a bit of slow build-up in front of an orange wall.
SHOT! Just as I say that, Foden again tries to pick out the far corner from 25 yards, but Verbruggen - at full stretch - makes the save and holds onto the ball.
SHOT! Mainoo - who has been exceptional so far - robs Gakpo and lets fly from range, but his strike smacks Nathan Ake and goes out for a throw.
Approaching half time, England can pat themselves on the back and then some. Whatever they had for breakfast at their hotel this morning has gone down a treat.
Southgate's men also ending the first 45 the better as Trippier gets down the left, but his cross is straight into Verbruggen's hands.
Three minutes added on.
Koeman's men keeping the ball well as the clock winds down, but England are holding their shape well.
HALF TIME: NETHERLANDS 1-1 ENGLAND
HALF TIME: Ake heads over the top with his back to goal to bring an end to an absorbing first half!
A seventh-minute Simons thunderbolt put the Dutch ahead, but Kane's penalty - albeit a controversial one - brought England deservedly level.
Both sides have also hit the woodwork, while Dumfries cleared a Foden shot off of the line.
We should be in for a treat for the second 45!
England's first-half performance will naturally beg the question - where has this team been all tournament long?
It doesn't matter - they are in the semi-finals, and they should be winning. But Veerman's introduction certainly helped to tighten up the Dutch.
Analysis from Sports Mole football editor Matt Law:"What an opening 45 minutes of action. Easily one of the best at Euro 2024 in terms of entertainment and incidents.
"I thought that England would hit back soon after the Netherlands goal, and that proved to be the case, albeit with a fortunate penalty.
"England will feel that they should be ahead considering the chances that have arrived since, but Netherlands are a huge threat, and if the Dutch can start to enjoy more of the ball, then they will expect to continue causing problems. Still fancy this one to go all the way to penalties."
Well, if it does go to penalties, I know who my money is on...
By the way, Kane has now scored more major tournament knockout goals (nine) than any other European men's player in history, leaving the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Gerd Muller and Miroslav Klose in his wake.
After flattering to deceive earlier in the tournament but still scraping through, wouldn't it be ironic for England to put in a brilliant performance tonight but still go out? Surely I'm not the only one thinking that...
That's enough negativity, though. Southgate will no doubt be the happier coach in the dressing rooms.
Gary Neville on ITV sympathising with his fellow right-back Dumfries, saying that he would have hated that penalty to have been given against him as a player. I reckon he didn't mind too much when Kane found the bottom corner.
Luke Shaw has been warming up during the interval - will we see him in the second half?
Certainly not just yet - would be surprised if Southgate makes any half-time alterations.
ENGLAND SUBHow do I delete a post?
Shaw IS coming on at half time and replaces Trippier. Meanwhile, Malen is off for the Netherlands, and the big man Weghorst is on.
KICKOFF: The Netherlands get us back underway.
Let him know you're there and all that.
Weghorst clatters John Stones over within 43 seconds.
England quickly take control of the ball and Saka gets in behind Ake, but there is nobody there to receive his cutback.
The offside flag is up against England, but it's been another bright start from the men in white.
Patience is the name of the game right now for England, as Koeman's side have well and truly tightened up defensively.
Southgate's men just probing at the moment; Shaw's cross is blocked by Dumfries.
Mainoo has been an absolute force defensively and stands up to Simons on the right, before Tijjani Reijnders sends the ball straight out of play when looking for Dumfries.
I suspected the chances might dry up a bit when Koeman beefed up his midfield with the introduction of Veerman, and it has panned out exactly that way.
We're into one-moment-of-magic territory it seems. Not a lot to write home about at the start of the second half.
England still dominating possession but finding it far more difficult to penetrate the Orange wall.
Southgate's men are now attacking in the direction of the Dutch fans, by the way.
Koeman's men break quickly - surprise surprise - and Veerman tries to find Weghorst at the back post, but he overcooks his outswinging cross.
This now feels too reminiscent of England's first four matches at the tournament, struggling to find gaps in a compact backline, but the Dutch are not giving Pickford anything to think about either.
SAVE! Veerman swings in a free kick for the Netherlands after Simons draws a foul by the dugouts, and Van Dijk gets his toe to it, forcing Pickford into a good reaction save!
SHOT! From the resulting corner, Dumfries wins the header again, but he cannot keep this effort down.
Things are starting to happen for the Netherlands now, as Gakpo delivers a dangerous ball from the left, which Pickford has to punch behind for a corner.
Ake wins the header but Zwayer had spotted something that he didn't like. England free kick.
Time to mutter the dreaded two words, extra time?
At this point, it is difficult to see where a goal might come from.
YELLOW CARD! Bellingham and De Vrij go in for a 50-50, but it is the England man who is penalised. Yellow card from Zwayer.
Saka down on the right after taking Ake's hand in his face, but no interest from the referee.
Surely both managers will be starting to think about changes pretty soon. Just the one alteration from Southgate, two from Koeman - one enforced.
SAVE! Simons connects with a volley, but his connection is anything but clean - one bounce into the ground and Pickford gathers.
Cole Palmer and
Ollie Watkins about to emerge for England.
DISALLOWED GOAL! SAKA HAS THE BALL IN THE BACK OF THE NET, BUT THE OFFSIDE FLAG IS UP!
DISALLOWED GOAL! Foden slips in Walker down the right, and the Manchester City man cuts back for Saka to guide home a brilliant first-time finish, but the right-back had just gone a bit too early.
ENGLAND SUBSThat was Foden's last contribution - he comes off for Palmer, while Watkins replaces... Kane. Big call.
So close yet so far for England and Saka. Another 30 is looming.
Some beautiful play from Reijnders down the left, but Guehi stands up tall and takes the full force of Weghorst's 6ft 6in frame to snuff out the attack.
YELLOW CARD! Gakpo is pushed over by Saka and the Netherlands have a free kick in a decent area...
Saka is booked to boot.
YELLOW CARD! Stones gets a head to Veerman's free kick, but Zwayer gives a goal kick.
A furious Van Dijk is booked for his protests.
SHOT! Saka sprays a sublime cross-field pass to Shaw, whose ball across is missed by Watkins, but Palmer picks it up and curls a strike over the top.
GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-2 ENGLAND (WATKINS)
GOAL! OLLIE WATKINS MAY HAVE JUST SENT ENGLAND INTO THE EURO 2024 FINAL!
It's an absolutely brilliant finish from the Aston Villa man, who takes Palmer's pass to feet and finds the far side of the net from an incredibly tight angle!
Simons was booked for complaining about something in the aftermath.
NETHERLANDS SUBSTwo minutes were added on originally, but it will certainly be more now.
Simons and Dumfries off for Joshua Zirkzee and Brian Brobbey.
ENGLAND SUBSAt the same time, Saka and Mainoo have come off, Ezri Konsa and Conor Gallagher are on.
FULL TIME: NETHERLANDS 1-2 ENGLANDENGLAND ARE EURO 2024 FINALISTS!!!!!!!!!
Where do you want your statue Ollie Watkins? The Aston Villa man gets a massive hug from the man who brought him on, and rightly so. Southgate's substitutions were absolutely perfect.
It's Spain vs. England for Euro 2024 glory on Sunday in Berlin!
As England's celebrations go on long into the night, all that's left for us to say is a huge thank you to everyone for joining us for an unforgettable evening in Dortmund.
We'll leave you with our brilliant match report, which you can find here.
Until Sunday, goodnight all!
