Euro Cortado #19: Oranje ripening, Lions roaring
England continue to stumble at every hurdle but are still alive, while the Dutch challenge gathers pace
The Quarter-finals are over, we have our last four teams, and I am a nervous wreck.
Sometimes in life, you must prepare for the worst. So, for the next few days, I will be mentally preparing myself for a UEFA Euro 2024 final between France and England.
Penalty experts England (yes, really) saw off Switzerland after 120 minutes of football which was only 5% better than the usual rubbish that England have served up so far in Germany, before we bid farewell to Turkey, who failed to hold out against the Netherlands.
Extend your Sunday brunch a little longer with a nice, warm Euro Cortado!
Oranje continue to blossom
Stefan de Vrij’s equaliser and a Mert Müldür own goal forced by Cody Gakpo turned the final quarter-final around and sent Netherlands through to the last four at Turkey’s expense.
Much the better side against Romania in the last round, I wrote about how the Dutch have been growing into the tournament as it has gone on, the narrative that many are spouting.
Yet, I wonder how differently they would be viewed had Xavi Simons’ strike against France not been disallowed? Two wins from two, one coming against one of the favourites, before a minor blip when already-qualified against Austria, then smoothly back on track with a 3-0 win to start the knockouts.
But Xavi Simons’ goal was disallowed and the loss to Austria was seen as a shambles, despite only losing by the odd goal. Small moments and decisions can greatly change perceptions of teams, though in this case, it could well have aided the Dutch, who have reached the semi-finals flying under the radar, but playing good football.
Their defence - the major talking point against Austria - was breached again last night, though Turkey have been unstoppable from corners in the knockout stage, so perhaps that should not be held against the Netherlands.
Under the greatest test of their mental strength and Ronald Koeman’s managerial skill so far at these finals, the defence withstood Turkish pressure before de Vrij popped up at the other end with a goal. Then, with substitute Wout Weghorst causing havoc, the Turkey defence could not show the same resolve as against Austria, and the Dutch squeezed in the winner just five minutes later.
Koeman’s change of shape and introduction of Weghorst silenced his doubters as, like Spain, the Dutch are utilising their squad players to full effect.
The Netherlands now have three wins inside 90 minutes at this tournament, only Spain have more, with the Dutch the only team with two from two in the knockout stages.
Never mind dark horses, there’s a bright orange stallion cantering towards the finish line.
England scrape through again
“A turd that won’t flush” was the best description I saw on social media of England after they beat Switzerland on penalties in Saturday’s first semi-final, reaching the final four for the third time under Gareth Southgate.
My answer to the anti-Southgate England fans has always been his tournament record, especially compared to better-qualified managers with so-called golden generations at their disposal, but this time I believe England are progressing in spite of him.
England finally looked a threat against Slovakia once Southgate was forced to abandon his conservative set-up, while Marc Guéhi’s suspension was a blessing in disguise for the manager, who had little choice but to switch to a back three, matching the Swiss man-for-man and not giving them the space Italy afforded them.
Still, it took Breel Embolo’s goal 15 minutes from full-time to really spark England into life, with Bukayo Saka responding in style five minutes later. The way they have played throughout the tournament, it seems as if going a goal down is actually to their advantage.
England were better, marginally, though two minutes listening to the BBC’s analysis would have you believing they had romped to a 7-0 win and Phil Foden had solved world hunger. With Guéhi back and Luke Shaw now available, Southgate has a decision to make against the Netherlands - expect a flat back seven.
Credit must go to England’s penalty-taking abilities, the hoodoo of yesteryear banished with aplomb despite the memories of Italy at Wembley flooding back. They may have overcome the 12-yard mental block, but England still need to prove themselves against the supposed “big teams” of international football, and they will have to beat two of them to win a first Euros.
Anthony Tomas is a football writer and commentator, who writes for Flashscore and World Soccer Magazine.