Euro 2024 LIVE: England stars 'handed ban' as UEFA give Netherlands semi-final advantage

Goodnight!

That's all from us!

Spain are in the final, be sure to join us tomorrow to find out whether England or the Netherlands will join them.

Savage urges Southgate to make change

Former footballer Robbie Savage believes Gareth Southgate should consider starting Luke Shaw over Kieran Trippier ahead of England's crucial semi-final match against the Netherlands on Wednesday night.

Speaking to Planet Sport Bet, Savage said: “I’d start Shaw on the left over Kieran Trippier because he’s got minutes under his belt now and he’s been training. If Shaw plays against the Netherlands he can push Denzel Dumfries back, because we know Dumfries likes to attack. I thought the 3-4-2-1 formation worked for England against Switzerland, I’d stick with that.

“It is going to be a tough test against the Netherlands but I think England will win 2-1, potentially after extra time. Even if it goes to penalties, I’d fancy England to win it because of the quality of their penalty takers. You can’t forget that the regular penalty taker, Harry Kane, wasn’t even on the pitch against Switzerland for the penalty shootout and England still won. Even if it went to the sixth or seventh penalty, England have great strength in depth when it comes to spot kicks.”

Dutch fans to outnumber England

England fans are likely to be outnumbered by a huge Dutch contingent in the stadium tomorrow.

But Southgate said the Three Lions supporters will rise to the occasion. He said: “One of the great things about this tournament has been the atmosphere in the stadiums, the fact that (there have been) so many supporters of every team.

“Our fans, whether there are more or less, will make themselves heard I’m sure and it will be a brilliant, colourful occasion.” He added: “These are the matches we want to be involved with. It is why we are involved with football. We are looking forward to the occasion.”

Spain win

Spain have booked their place in the Euro 2024 final with a 2-1 win over France!

They will play either England or the Netherlands in the final.

Keane's prediction

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane has backed England to beat the Netherlands and reach a second consecutive Euros final, insisting Gareth Southgate's side are "in a great place".

England are set to take on the Dutch in Dortmund on Wednesday, having reached the semi-finals by beating Switzerland on penalties. The Netherlands, meanwhile, beat Turkey 2-1 in their quarter-final clash.

However, Keane is confident England will win the semi-final and go on to face either France or Spain in the final in Berlin on Sunday. "I fancy England to win the semi-final [against the Netherlands]," Keane said on Stick to Football : The Overlap Special, brought to you by Sky Bet.

"We watched the game – Turkey and Holland – and England will beat Holland. But with that level of performance against France or Spain, if they're at it, it probably wouldn't be enough for England, but you cross that bridge when you get to it.

"Emotionally, the energy levels are back up there with England, Gareth [Southgate] – we spoke about his interview a couple of days ago – but [on Saturday] he was [upbeat] but that's what a win gives you."

Van Dijk concerns

Virgil van Dijk’s mixed record against Harry Kane could leave his Netherlands team-mates concerned ahead of the Euro 2024 semi-final.

The pair will renew their rivalry in Dortmund on Wednesday as both countries attempt to reach what would only be their second-ever Euros final. Kane regularly collided with the Liverpool defender during his days at Tottenham and boasts an impressive record against the 33-year-old.

The England captain scored six goals in 10 appearances against one of Europe’s finest centre-backs and their individual battle will be crucial to the outcome of the match, assuming Kane keeps his place. Former Manchester United and England defender Wes Brown reckons Van Dijk’s previous battles with Kane may be playing on his and his team-mates’ minds.

Speaking on Reach's new Euro Thrash podcast – which you can find on YouTube, Apple and Spotify – Brown said: “Those little match-ups, they are talked about. Not just by pundits, but in the changing room. You know you do well against this person, that this person is the nightmare and always scores regardless whether he plays bad or not.”

Goal!

What a game this is! Spain have now taken the lead through a Jules Kounde own goal, with the defender inadvertently deflecting a Dani Olmo shot past his own goalkeeper.

Goal!

Spain have equalised with a stunning strike from Lamine Yamal!

Goal!

France have taken the lead through Randal Kolo Muani, with the striker heading home a cross from Kylian Mbappe.

Kick-off in Munich

We are underway in the first semi-final in Munich, with Spain and France battling for a spot in Sunday's final.

Southgate hails England's special bond

England boss Gareth Southgate has praised the special bond his team has formed during Euro 2024.

And he said the close ties between the players has put them on the verge of history. England have never reached a major final on foreign soil.

The coach said: “We are trying to break new ground. It is difficult and it is complicated but the players have responded brilliantly.”

He added: “I’m very fortunate to have a fabulous group of players. I think we work as a team. We always have. The special thing about this group of players has been the way that the 26 have really bonded over the last few weeks.

“We’ve had a lot of new players in, a lot of players with no tournament experience in the squad, and the contributions coming into the games have been so important.”

He continued: “We have been very fortunate. We have had Ed Sheeran in to sing, and it was great. The players had a couple of beers before the last game. You can bond in that way that way but when you have to hit the ball out of your box in the 92nd minute and find a goal in the 96th minute, there is nothing stronger than that that for building the spirit of the team.’’

Spain vs France team news

Spain XI: Simon; Navas, Nacho, Laporte, Cucurella; Rodri, Ruiz; Yamal, Olmo, Williams; Morata.

France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Kolo Muani, Mbappe

Southgate adresses referee controversy

Gareth Southgate said the controversial appointment of Felix Zwayer as the referee for the Euro 2024 semi-final in Dortmund was ‘not even a consideration’.

The German official was involved in a bitter spat with Jude Bellingham three years ago when the England midfielder blasted Zwayer after a game between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich.

Bellingham, then a Dortmund player, said: "You give a referee that has match-fixed before, the biggest game in Germany? What do you expect?" The England star was fined £34,000 for his explosive remarks and Zwayer took two months off amidst the fallout from the row.

Zwayer was banned for six months in 2005 after accepting a £250 bribe from fellow referee Robert Hoyzer. Zwayer was given a lenient punishment in the first instance because he realised his mistake and reported the alleged bribe.

But despite the furore, UEFA have backed Zwayer by giving him the showpiece game with England - and are refusing to back down. The 43-year-old is regarded by UEFA as one of their top officials and they insist that is why he is in charge of the clash against HOLLAND .

And Southgate is not bothered that Zwayer is taking charge of Bellingham on the big stage, with a place in the Euro 2024 final at stake in the showdown with Holland. The England manager said: "I think everyone who knows me knows I deal with referees with complete respect.

"I know UEFA appreciate the respect we have shown referees over eight years. There is a right way to conduct yourself towards officials. I am not concerned who the referee is. He will be at a very high standard because that is what UEFA demand."

And Southgate also laughed off suggestions that Dutch travel problems on the eve of the match might have an impact on manager Ronald Koeman’s preparations. Southgate smiled: "We don’t play until 9 tomorrow night. And I’m sure they’ll still get dinner tonight. I don’t see it having any impact on the game."

Lineker makes selection call

Gary Lineker believes Luke Shaw should be the major change to England 's starting XI for the semi-final.

He said on The Rest is Football : "I think Shaw will start as left wing-back, think we will stick with the same system. I think it would be slightly odd to go back to a system that wasn't working and have the same problem with the balance on the left-hand side which he [Gareth Southgate] never addressed in four matches.

"Then he did address, even though it was Trippier, and he's not naturally left-footed, but you put Shaw in there and he's got a lovely balance."

England's date with destiny

England face a date with destiny when they take on the Dutch in Dortmund’s Westphalia Stadium tomorrow.

Victory will send them to Berlin for Sunday’s Euro 2024 while defeat will mean they catch the next flight home.

And Gareth Southgate’s side will have to tackle Ronald Koeman’s players and also silence the massed ranks of an estimated 80,000 Dutch supporters who will outnumber Three Lions fans by two to one in the city tomorrow.

Many German ‘neutrals’ will also be backing their near neighbours after blaming English ref Anthony Taylor for not awarding them a penalty during the 2-1 quarter final defeat to Spain.

A petition demanding he is removed from the list of Uefa referees has received more than 213,000 signatures.

But the host country’s bar owners are praying England progress to the final so their fans can carry on drinking.

In Dusseldorf, Vangelis Chantzis, landlord of Irish pub Fatty's on Hunsrückenstraße, said: "Nobody here has ever seen anything like it. We hope they stay in as long as possible.”

Marinko Miletić, an ex professional footballer who now helps out in his family owned bar Ham Ham in Dusseldorf, said: “We are definitely hoping that England will win tomorrow and we hope that it is coming home for England, because it has been a great time with all the English fans from the start.”

Up to 40,000 England fans are expected to arrive in Dortmund later tomorrow for the match, with around half that cheering on the team inside the stadium, which is home to the German side Borussia Dortmund.

But most fans will be staying in nearby towns and cities, as accommodation is scarce and expensive.

The Dorint hotel in Dortmund advertised a double room tomorrow for £2,188, which on Thursday is available for £102.

Tens of thousands of Dutch supporters will also make the short 146 mile journey across their border to Dortmund.

Tickets for the sold out match are being advertised for between three and four times their face value on resale websites.

Category 3 tickets, which were sold by Uefa for £164, could be bought on one site for between £560 and £633.

Two of the first English fans to arrive were Niven Penprase, 63, and Shaun Wilcox, who said they were “living the dream” as they soaked up the sun and downed a couple of cold beers in Dortmund.

The pair from Plymouth, Devon, have been travelling around Germany with two pals in a motorhome.

Shaun, 60, said: “This is a bucket list trip for us and we are loving it. To see the national team play in a tournament abroad has been tremendous.

“We are like little schoolboys fulfilling our dream.”

Niven, a retired gas engineer, said: “We have seen the Bellingham goal, an extra time win and a penalty shoot-out.

“It has been a roller coaster ride but we are loving it."

He added: “We said we would come over and stay for as long as England are in the competition and we are still here.

“We have got to the semi-final without playing our best. I think we have got another gear that we can up on.

“Hopefully we will be in Berlin next weekend.”

Max Hanson, 27, a health care assistant from Kent, has been in Germany since the start of Euro 2024 after booking the time off work last October.

He said:"I promised I would go back as soon as England got knocked out but I'm still here.”

And Max believes the team can reach the final.

"I think against Switzerland we looked a lot better. Defensively we have looked strong and I think a good defence wins you tournaments" he said.

"We have a chance of winning, we definitely have the players to do so.”

He added: "This is my first tournament and it has been really good. I've found Germany to be an amazing country. I can't fault it.”

Dutch and English fans mingled happily in the sunshine outside bars and restaurants in the city today.

Gill Bishop and Mick Smith, from Preston, Lancs, had driven over in their camper van after a spur of the moment decision moments after the victory over Switzerland.

IT worker Gill, 53, said: “I had told my boss I was thinking of taking a couple of days off and then I called him on Saturday night to tell him I was going to Germany.

“We booked the Eurostar about ten minutes later and here we are.”

Builder Mick added: "Everybody is so laid back here. The atmosphere is superb."

Russell Gibbons, 52, and Mark Partridge, 42, from Bristol, have watched three of England’s games so far and are also guaranteed tickets if they reach the final.

Mortgage company worker Russell said: “It has been a really good atmosphere and the policing has been superb.

“It has been so relaxing. We have got a train pass and have been travelling all over."

Mark said: “The Germans have been fantastic. The people have been brilliant.”

The two pals are confident England will be going to Berlin on Sunday.

Russell said: “To be honest, the football has been dreadful, but we are still here.

“It has not been entertaining but who cares if we get through to Berlin and bring home the trophy.”

What happened the last time England took on the Netherlands

You have to go back five years for the last time England and the Netherlands faced off, and it was one of just two meetings during the Gareth Southgate era.

England won the first of those, a friendly in March 2018, with Jesse Lingard scoring the only goal of the game.

The following year, however, it was the Oranje who came out on top.

England took the lead in the UEFA Nations League semi-final clash when Marcus Rashford converted a penalty, but Matthijs de Ligt equalised before two extra-time goals gave the Dutch victory.

The Netherlands went on to lose to Portugal in the final, while England beat Switzerland on penalties in the third-place game.

Toney cracks penalty joke

England star Ivan Toney has poked fun at his ‘no look’ penalty against the Swiss with a spoof video.

The striker amazed team mates and fans when he cooly slotted home in the shoot-out without looking at the ball. And he has now performed other ‘no look’ skills at the England camp.

Footage released today showed him playing Connect 4, darts, and basketball while staring the other way. He was also seen reading a book without eyeing the pages.

After Saturday’s quarter final victory Toney, 28, explained he watches the keeper move before taking a spot kick. He said: “I always look at the keeper no matter who it is.

“I always wait to see if he makes the first move and if he doesn't make the first move I'll pick a corner to put it in. I've always done this. I feel like it has been working for me and hopefully it can continue.”

What we spotted from England training

All 26 England squad members were in training ahead of Wednesday's semi-final.

Marc Guehi is back in contention after suspension, though he had strapping on his shoulder after a recent injury, while Harry Kane has also shaken off injury concerns.

Here's what we spotted from the session

Supercomputer decides England's fate

You know what they say, if you can't make your own predictions you can always fall back on a good old supercomputer.

Okay, fine, people don't really say that, but we're giving you the option all the same.

Today's supercomputer prediction has England making it through their semi-final, only to lose Sunday's final.

Going into the semis, they're third-favourites, ahead of the Netherlands but below both France and Spain, which supports those suggestions that they're in the easier half of the draw.

How will Spain and France line up?

Spain will have to make at least a few change for their semi-final against France, after Pedri picked up a tournament-ending injury in the quarter-final against Germany.

Dani Olmo replaced Pedri in the first half of that game, and scored the opener in an eventual 2-1 victory.

He won't be the only one pushing for a start, though, with Mikel Merino hopeful for minutes after scoring the winner, while Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand are due to miss out through suspension.

As for France, Adrien Rabiot could come back into the fold after serving a one-match ban in the quarter-final win over Portugal.

Will Mbappe come good against Spain

For the last few months, the headlines about Kylian Mbappe have looked at how he will fare against Spanish defenders... when he moves to Real Madrid for the new season.

The France star will have a chance to test himself against Spaniards before then, though, with Les Bleus taking on Luis de la Fuente's side in tonight's Euro 2024 semi-final.

Mbappe hasn't shown the kind of form that was on display at the 2022 World Cup, but now there's a chance for him to make a real statement - at club and international level.

Waddle calls for double change

Former England winger Chris Waddle has been unimpressed by England stars Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham, encouraging Gareth Southgate to make big changes on Wednesday.

"If I was Cole Palmer or Eberechi Eze, I would be having a word with the manager asking him to give me some minutes when the scores are level rather than coming into a game when England are staring down the barrel of a defeat, because the likes of Bellingham and Foden simply aren’t doing it," Waddle told Prime Casino.

"Our performances have improved when Palmer and Eze have been introduced. I think that we look like a much better team in terms of the football we’re playing with them in the side."

No third-place play-off at the Euros

Just a reminder that it's win or bust for England on Wednesday.

While the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia was followed by the comedown of a third-place game against Belgium, there's no equivalent at the Euros.

The last time we got a bronze medal match in the tournament was way back in 1980, when Czechoslovakia beat Italy on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Sheringham expects Southgate to make a change

Former England striker Teddy Sheringham expects Marc Guehi to return to England's back line after suspension.

"Gareth Southgate will go back to Marc Guehi," Sheringham told OLBG. "There isn’t a lot between Guehi and Ezri Konsa but that was his pick from the off and I think he’ll go back to it."

Sheringham was part of the England team that beat the Netherlands at Euro 96, and is predicting another win - albeit not as convincing as that 4-1 victory.

"It’s going to be a tight game and it’s a semi-final so you know you’re up against a very good team - but I think England will avoid penalties and nick it by the odd goal," he said.

"I think 1-0 sounds about right but once you’re in the semi-finals I don’t think anyone would care how you win."

More from England training

England's players have been put through their paces in Blankenhain as players look to stake a claim for a spot in the XI on Wednesday.

Would you make any changes? Or did those who started against Switzerland do enough to warrant another start?

Former England keeper James defends Kane

David James says he understands comparisons between England captain Harry Kane and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, but doesn't agree with them.

There have been calls for Kane to make way for the semi-final after his return of two goals in five games, but James - England's starting keeper at Euro 2004 - has faith in the skipper.

"I get the references to Cristiano Ronaldo, but Portugal weren't scoring goals at all and they didn't really ever deliver great performances," James told Genting Casino. "I fancied them to play England in the final, such was the clamour around them in the build-up.

"With Harry, if the team have worked on a specific style and a formation, then it wouldn't have factored in Harry running around like a headless chicken. They are doing what they have planned to do, and it has got them to a semi-finals, and Harry Kane was very much part of that.

"England do have options, as do the Netherlands. Ivan Toney or Ollie Watkins could come off the bench, but we haven't needed them as of yet. The supporter or the fan who wants to see exciting football might argue that point, but I think England just need to get through each stage as it comes."

England stars gear up for semi-final test

England's players have been training ahead of Wednesday's semi, with a lot on the line.

Might Jordan Pickford be called upon for more penalty heroics? Or might it all be done and dusted, one way or another, before 90 mnutes are up?

Wes Brown previews England v Netherlands

Wes Brown has been part of successful club sides, winning the Champions League with Manchester United.

On the latest episode of Euro Thrash, he has previewed England's huge semi-final against the Netherlands as Gareth Southgate's team aim high.

Shaw responds to England referee drama

Felix Zwayer will officiate England's semi-final against The Netherlands, having served a ban early in his career after accepting a £250 bribe from fellow referee Robert Hoyzer.

The ref has history with Jude Bellingham, who brought up his past during a Borussia Dortmund game, but Bellingham's international team-mate Luke Shaw isn't focusing on that.

"We have to respect UEFA on whoever they decide to pick as ref," Shaw said.

"That won't change anything for us, we just focus on the game at hand and not focus on the refs we are given."

Richards thinks there's 'no chance' England should drop stars

Pundit and former England international Micah Richards is keeping faith with under-fire duo Harry Kane and Phil Foden.

"I know they can both play much better than they have done so far in Germany, but I would say the reason they have not been at their best is a tactical issue rather being down to the players themselves," Richards wrote in his BBC column.

"As for dropping them? Absolutely no chance."