England Gears Up for Semifinal Showdown with Netherlands

England manager Gareth Southgate acknowledged that the start of Euro 2024 brought heightened expectations and external pressures but believes his team is now poised to create history as they prepare for a semi-final clash against the Netherlands. Reflecting on their journey, Southgate noted that initially, the team struggled to find their rhythm but has since embraced their strength of playing with less fear and inhibition.

Captain Harry Kane emphasized the team’s reliance on past experiences to navigate tough matches like the upcoming semi-final. He expressed confidence in their ability to seize opportunities and highlighted the significance of potentially reaching back-to-back European Championship finals. The winner of Wednesday’s semi-final will face Spain in the final, following Spain’s 2-1 victory over France.

England, who reached the Euro 2020 final but lost on penalties to Italy, has progressively raised expectations, with Kane acknowledging the added pressure as a motivating factor for the team. Regarding tactical decisions and team dynamics, Southgate emphasized that substitutions depend on game circumstances rather than pre-conditioned plans. He addressed the potential inclusion of defender Luke Shaw, recently returned from injury stating that the decision to start him will depend on his readiness.

Southgate also dismissed concerns about the referee’s past controversies, asserting confidence in UEFA’s rigorous standards for match officials. Overall, England aims to capitalize on their momentum and experience to overcome the Netherlands and secure a spot in the Euro 2024 final, eyeing another chance to claim European glory.