Euro 2024 Semi-Final: Here’s Why Netherlands v England Is A REAL Grudge Match

We take a look back at previous meetings between England and the Netherlands ahead of Wednesday's semi-final.

By / Euros, Football News / 2 weeks ago

England v Netherlands is a fixture that has delivered great memories and created personal grudges over the years. Wednesday evening’s Euro 2024 semi-final becomes the latest chapter.

Let Paddy Power News mark your card ahead of the big showdown in Dortmund, by looking back at some of their most (in)famous matchups.

Euro 88 – England 1-3 Netherlands

Having already lost to Jack Charlton’s Republic of Ireland in their opening game, the Three Lions had to get something out of their second group match against an all-conquering Dutch side.

As they lined up in the tunnel at the Rheinstadion in Dusseldorf, a Netherlands team containing Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, and current boss Ronald Koeman, looked across at an England team that had Gary Stevens, Mark Wright, and Trevor Steven in its starting XI and thought to themselves that there was “No way we can lose to these.”

Van Basten opened the scoring, before legendary Dutch coach Rinus Michels advised his players to let England score an equaliser to make a game of it, which they did courtesy of Bryan Robson. Van Basten went on to grab a hat-trick, as the Netherlands went on to win the title.

England headed home with left-back Kenny Samson still getting on everyone’s nerves by doing his impression of Norman Wisdom on the team coach.

World Cup 1990 – England 0-0 Netherlands

Having suffered humiliation two years earlier, England boss Bobby Robson was determined that it was not going to happen again, in another group encounter in Cagliari.

England’s secret weapon this time was striker Gary Lineker, who had shat himself on the same pitch in their opening game against the Irish.

With no Dutch defender prepared to go within two feet of him in case there was a repeat performance, this allowed new midfield sensation Paul Gascoigne to boss the match. Lineker’s dodgy guts, however, meant he was reluctant to try to get on the end of any of his crosses into the box.

World Cup Qualifier 1993 – Netherlands 2-0 England

The game that finally got Graham Taylor the sack, as documented in the award-winning “An Impossible Job” documentary shown on Channel 4.

By the time Ronaldo Koeman had given the hosts the lead on 61 minutes, everyone apart from referee Karl Josef Assenmacher that is, knew that he should have been sent off for a professional foul on David Platt.

Dennis Bergkamp added to England’s misery eight minutes later, to spare the hosts, USA, from having to watch the likes of Carlton Palmer and Tony Dorigo strutting their stuff at their first-ever World Cup tournament.

Koeman admitted in later years that he should have gone for an early shower while Platt admitted that he should have given him a “bunch of fives” in the tunnel afterwards.

Euro 96 – England 4-1 Netherlands

Still regarded by many as England’s finest-ever performance, masterminded by coach Terry Venables.

With the host nation four up and playing total football against the country who had invented it, Wembley Stadium echoed to a chorus of “Football’s coming home” with Frank Skinner and David Baddiel dancing in the Royal Box.

Venables, forever thinking outside the box, then realised that as it stood, Scotland were set to qualify for the knock-out stages of a major tournament for the first time in their history.

A quick shout to goalkeeper David Seaman changed all that, as Patrick Kluivert grabbed a valuable goal, 12 minutes from time to ensure that the Dutch progressed at the Scot’s expense.

UEFA Nations League 2019 – England 1-3 Netherlands

The Netherlands had to wait 23 years to get revenge for their Wembley humiliation, by winning the last encounter between the two countries in a major tournament, a Nations League semi-final after extra-time, in the heat of Guimaraes.

England boss Gareth Southgate, with a nod to the class of ‘88, selected Fabian Delph, Ben Chilwell, and Ross Barkley in his starting line-up.

Koeman, who was now in charge of the national team, saw Marcus Rashford give England the lead from the penalty spot and had to wait until 17 minutes from time for Matthijs de Ligt to bring the scores level.

With Southgate stripped down to his M&S waistcoat and Koeman feasting on bogies, Kyle Walker’s own goal gave the Dutch the advantage before Quincy Promes put the result beyond any doubt three minutes from the end of the extra period.

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