In the 2022 World Cup preview, we look at the Netherlands, which being one of the powerhouses of international football hasn't qualified for the FIFA World Cup since 2010.

Quick Facts:

World Cup appearances: 11th

Best finish: Runner-up (1974, 1978, 2010)

How they got here: The Oranje finished top of a difficult qualifying group that contained Turkey and Erling Haaland's Norway. 

Coach: Louis van Gaal (Dutch)

Strongest XI: (4-3-3) Jasper Cillessen; Daley Blind, Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt, Denzel Dumfries; Davy Klaassen, Frenkie de Jong, Marten de Roon; Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay, Steven Berghuis

Injuries: Georginio Wijnaldum (leg), Bruno Martins Indi (muscle injury)

Positive:

After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the Flying Dutchmen's vessel has been steadily righted over the last four-year cycle. There were stormy passages (the short reign of Frank de Boer), but the team has come out stronger because of them (the return of the legend, Louis van Gaal). 

The spine of the side is sensational: Virgil van Dijk, Matthijs de Ligt and Stefan de Vrij are the options at central defense, Frenkie de Jong is a regista in purest sense and Memphis Depay (with 21 goals in his last 21 caps) is vastly underrated. 

The Dutch were also handed the dream draw in Qatar's group, so the expectation will be a last-16 match with the runner-up from Group B (presumably the USMNT or Wales). The pathway is there for another memorable run.

Negative:

After making light work of an easy group at Euro 2020, the Oranje were immediately exposed by a Czech Republic side that comprehensively beat them 2-0 in the last 16 (the Dutch didn't land a shot on target). 

Those weaknesses were again revealed in qualifying, most notably last November when Holland threw away a 2-0 lead against Montenegro to stumble to a draw and take things down to the final match day. 

Compared with the legendary Netherlands attacks of old, this squad doesn't get the pulse racing in the final third. 

Key Player:

24-year-old Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn has emerged as the national team's most dependable attacking option outside of Memphis Depay, and after looking lost during his three years with Tottenham, he's returned to Holland and is lighting up the Eredivisie. 

2022 World Cup: Tournament Prediction:

Most likely to mess it all up: Virgil van Dijk. A lot has been written about the previously imperious defender's form for Liverpool, and there's a worry that he'll approach the World Cup on fumes.  

What will make this a good World Cup: A trip to the quarterfinals and Luuk De Jong scoring goals.

Bonus prediction: When FIFA revealed its list of countries leading ticket sales, the Netherlands wasn't present. The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has also been very critical of the Qatar World Cup. Don't expect any form of protest when Qatar opens against Ecuador on Nov. 20, but expect one on Day 2 of the tournament when the Netherlands plays Senegal.

For more 2022 World Cup updates, follow Sportz Point.

Germany is going to take on the Netherlands in a scintillating clash in the UEFA Nations League group game tonight, scheduled to kick off at 12:15 AM IST on 15 October 2024. The two teams will set their foot in the iconic Allianz Arena Stadium in Munich where the German home crowd will welcome the visitors, the Dutch brigade.

Currently standing on the top of Nations League Group A3 with 7 points earned in 3 matches so far, Germany will face the second-placed Netherlands who are at 5 points in the same amout of matches played.

Germany will utilize their home advantage in this match after a smooth away victory by 2-1 against Bosnia & Herzegovina. Deniz Undav scored a brace and now has scored 3 goals in his two Nations League outings for Germany.

On the other hand, the Netherlands faced an unexpected result in their last game against Hungary, managing a frustrating 1-1 away draw after Denzel Dumfries scored in the 83rd minute to save the day for the Dutch. 

Match Details

Match: Germany vs Netherlands 

Date: 15 October 2024

Time: 12:15 AM IST

Venue: Allianz Arena, Munich, Germany 

Streaming Details

Indian viewers can stream the game live on the SonyLIV app and website. The TV broadcast will be on Sony Sports Network channels.

Head-to-head Stats (Since 2004)

Matches Played: 12

Germany wins: 4

Netherlands wins: 2

Draws: 6

Previous Records 

Since the 2004 EURO, Germany and Netherlands have faced each other 12 times over almost 20 years. Germany emerged victorious 4 times while Netherlands snatched the win 2 times. In their last face-off on 11th September 2024, Germany held a 2-2 against Netherlands in the same clash in the UEFA Nations League. 

Here are the previous records between these two teams since EURO 2004:

Hello and Welcome to SportzPoint for another UEFA Euro 2024 Live. The semi-final match between the Netherlands and England will kick off at 12:30 am IST. Stay tuned for all the live updates. We will see Liverpool sensation Virgil van Dijk representing his nation the Netherlands against Jude Bellingham's England in Dortmund.

Read Also: Netherlands vs England UEFA Euro 2024 Semi-Final Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

Follow us on Twitter for all the updates on the upcoming matches. Subscribe to our newsletter to have the latest news on your favourite sport. 

The UEFA Euro 2024 is proving to be a brilliant tournament. The Semi-Finals are set to be played on the 10th and 11th of July with the final on the 15th of July. We have already seen many big teams exiting early from the competition. Some of the best players in Europe represent their nations in this competition and compete to claim the prestigious title. However, the fans have seen some returning home after failing to progress further. Let's look at the top 5 players with the most goals in the 2024 UEFA Euro competition.

Read Also: All-time Top Goalscorers of UEFA Euros

The UEFA Euro Golden Boot

The Golden Boot is awarded to the player who scores the most goals in the tournament. If there are multiple players with the same number of goals, the winner is decided by the most number of assists. In the Euro 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo (five goals, one assist) edged out Czech striker Patrik Schick (five goals, no assists) to win the Golden Boot award.

If the top scorers also have equal assists, the winner will be the player with the fewest total minutes in the tournament. In Euro 2012, Spain’s Fernando Torres (189 minutes) beat Mario Gomez of Germany (282 minutes) in the Golden Boot race after both scored three goals and one assist each.

Top 5 Goalscorers of UEFA Euro 2024

Cody Gakpo | 3 goals & 1 assist | Netherlands

The Netherlands are in the semi-final of the UEFA Euro 2024 and lots of credit should go to Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo. He has been very influential in the Netherlands' path to the semis. Gakpo has scored 3 goals and 1 assist after appearing in 5 games until now and can extend his tally in the semi-final game against England.

His three goals in five games make him the joint-top goalscorer in the tournament. An offside call denied him a second goal in the 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16. He also set up Donyell Malen for the Netherlands' second goal in that game.

Georges Mikautadze | 3 goals & 1 assist | Georgia

Georgian striker Georges Mikautadze shined at the UEFA Euro 2024, registering three goals and one assist in four games at the tournament. It's no surprise that interest from top leagues has been attached to the forward. The striker was very impressive for Georgia in the Euros and helped them reach the knockout stages of the competition. He also scored in the last group-stage game against Portugal which helped Georgia for the Round of 16.

Ivan Schranz | 3 goals | Slovakia

Ivan Schranz had a great UEFA Euro 2024 campaign with Slovakia as he helped the team qualify for the knockouts of the competition. He even scored the opener against England in the Round of 16 but was unfortunately knocked out of the competition. The SK Slavia Prague forward scored 3 goals after appearing in 4 games for Slovakia.

Jamal Musiala | 3 goals | Germany

The hosts Germany's run in the Euro 2024 came to an end following a 2-1 extra-time defeat against Spain in the Quarter-Final. Jamal Musiala played beautiful football for his nation and scored 3 goals in 5 appearances. The 21-year-old Musiala is certainly living up to the hype, helping his side to win against big opponents on the big stage. With a combination of brilliant finishing ability, creativity, and pace, Musiala has all the attributes to provide a major attacking threat.

Dani Olmo | 3 goals and 2 assists | Spain

Dani Olmo is having a sensational campaign with Spain. He is not only helping his side with his goals and assists but his workrate is unmatchable. Despite not being the starter, Olmo is still on the list and is the front-runner to finish at the top.

When Pedri was subbed off due to an injury in the quarter-final against Germany, Olmo got the opportunity to come in and he dropped a stellar performance, scoring a stunner and providing the assist which eventually decided Spain's fortune. The RB Leipzig forward has already scored 3 goals and provided 2 assists in the Euro 2024 for La Roja. Not only that, all of his goals came in the knockouts of the Euro 2024.

Ronald Koeman's Netherlands is set to face Gareth Southgate's England in the UEFA Euro 2024 Semi-Final match at the Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund Germany on 11th July, Thursday. Netherlands and England both have some world-class players in their squads but England haven't played attractive football until now. The Netherlands, on the other side, have improved a lot since their first group-stage match. They knocked out Turkey in the Quarter-Final while Jude Bellingham's side beat Switzerland in the last round. From possible starting XIs to Fantasy predictions, here is everything you need to know about the Netherlands vs England Semi-Final match in the UEFA Euro 2024.

Read Also: Spain vs France UEFA Euro 2024 Semi-Final Match Preview, Head-to-head, Possible Lineups and Fantasy XI Prediction

Match Details

• Match: Netherlands vs England - UEFA Euro 2024 Semi-Final

• Date: 11/7/2024

• Time: 12:30 am (IST)

• Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

How to watch the Netherlands vs England UEFA Euro 2024 Semi-Final match?

The Live streaming of the Semi-Final match between the Netherlands and England will be on the Sony Liv app. The Netherlands vs England football match will also be telecast live on India's Sony Sports TV network.

Netherlands vs England: Head-to-Head stats

The Netherlands and England have played 22 games against each other. The Dutches have a slight lead, winning on 7 occasions while England have won 6 clashes against the Netherlands. The other 9 matches have ended in a draw.

• Matches Played: 22
• Netherlands won: 7
• England won: 6
• Draws: 9

Read Also: All-time Top Goalscorers of UEFA Euros

Team News

Netherlands

After the Netherlands' loss to Austria in the last group-stage game, many thought their run would be over soon but Ronald Koeman's side made a strong comeback and they will now play in the semi-final of the competition.

The #EURO2024 semi-final is coming. 😏#NothingLikeOranje #NEDENG pic.twitter.com/AixXjGN8zC

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) July 8, 2024

Gakpo has been more than influential with Xavi Simons creating a lot of chances. Memphis Depay hasn't been good but the Dutches don't have many options in the bench. Wout Weghorst will most likely come off the bench in the second half. 

Schouten and Reijnders will take care of the midfield with Donyell Malen also set to start in front of them. Stefan de Vrij scored a brilliant goal in the last game and also dropped a solid performance with his defending. Virgil van Dijk has failed to give his best at the tournament but he is a leader and will have to be at his best against the English attackers. Verbruggen has been sensational at the goal and he is going to play a key role on Thursday.

Big goal, big performance 💪

👏 Stefan de Vrij @Vivo_GLOBAL | #EUROPOTM pic.twitter.com/LW6ZaTIWDr

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 6, 2024

England

England have been very poor in front of goal. They will need to put their best foot forward against the Netherlands if they want to progress further. Harry Kane needs to step up. He hasn't played at his best so far. Bukayo Saka was exceptional in the last game and he would like to carry forward that performance too. Phil Foden plays very well in the middle so Southgate might be thinking of giving him more of a free role.

😁😁 pic.twitter.com/TGS3k6s7sp

— England (@England) July 6, 2024

Jude Bellingham is very inconsistent too with his performances. He has scored goals but has failed to build chemistry with the team. Kobbie Mainoo is a generational talent and has proved why he is worthy of that title. His passing and the game sense are second to none. Declan Rice always performs better when he gets the opportunity to move forward. He has been one of the best players for England in the Euro 2024.

Good morning! 😊 pic.twitter.com/zala2JpVwR

— England (@England) July 7, 2024

Kyle Walker will start as a wingback with Kieran Trippier on the other end. Southgate might bring Luke Shaw in the second half like he did in the match against Switzerland. John Stones and Marc Guehi are set to start at the back. Ezri Konsa did drop a solid performance in the last game but Guehi was brilliant too when he was starting before the suspension.

Starboy Saka 💫@Vivo_GLOBAL| #EUROPOTM pic.twitter.com/PsmPv7ComC

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 6, 2024

Possible XIs

Netherlands' possible starting lineup:

Bart Verbruggen; Nathan Aké, Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries; Tijjani Reijnders, Jerdy Schouten, Cody Gakpo; Xavi Simons, Donyell Malen, Memphis Depay

England's possible starting lineup: 

Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, Marc Guehi, John Stones; Kieran Trippier, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo, Declan Rice; Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka; Harry Kane

Netherlands vs England: Fantasy XI Prediction

Jordan Pickford; Kyle Walker, Stefan de Vrij, John Stones, Denzel Dumfries; Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham, Kobbie Mainoo; Xavi Simons, Cody Gakpo, Bukayo Saka

Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands qualified for the semi-finals of the UEFA Euro 2024 after some exciting battles in the quarter-finals. 

Spain booked their spot first after defeating the hosts Germany by 2-1 in Extra time. Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino helped Spain advance further in the tournament while Toni Kroos' Germany got knocked out of the competition. In the other quarter-final, France beat Portugal 5-3 on penalties after scoring no goals in the 120 minutes. Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe couldn't take their team further and their dream of winning another Euro is over.

England beat Switzerland in the third quarter-final by 5-3 on penalties. Breel Embolo did provide his side with the lead but Bukayo Saka brought England back into the game. The match eventually went into penalties and England were professional enough to clinch the victory and advance to the semi-final.

In the fourth and last quarter-final, Turkey faced the Netherlands and almost beat them. But the Dutches had other plans. Akaydin took the lead for Turkiye in the first half but De Vrij's late 70th minute equalizer brought the Netherlands back into the tie. An own goal from Muldur in the 76th minute crushed Turkey's dream of playing in the semi-final.

🥁 Introducing your final four...

🇪🇸 Spain
🇫🇷 France
🇳🇱 Netherlands
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

Who wins it? 🤔#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/vkQOd2Yb0x

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 6, 2024

Euro 2024 Semi-finals schedule

Euro 2024 Semi-finals streaming details

Football fans from India can watch the Euro 2024 Quarterfinals on Sony Sports Network channels on television. Moreover, they can LIVE stream the matches on Jio TV, the Sony LIV app, and the website as well.