Netherlands 1 England 2: Euro 2024 tactical analysis

The England men’s team reached a first-ever major tournament final on foreign soil courtesy of Ollie Watkins’ fine 90th-minute finish. With extra-time looming, the Aston Villa striker – on as a late substitute for Harry Kane – received a Cole Palmer pass in the box, before turning and shooting across Bart Verbruggen in a flash. It was a moment of vindication for Gareth Southgate, whose management has come under scrutiny given England’s stuttering progress at the tournament. Here, his introduction of Watkins – as well as Palmer for Phil Foden – bore spectacular fruit, setting up a final against Spain.

It was the Dutch who took an early lead, courtesy of a powerful Xavi Simons strike after he had dispossessed Declan Rice in a dangerous area. Denzel Dumfries also hit the bar with a header shortly before half-time, but otherwise England were dominant in the first half. Foden hit a post and had a shot cleared off the line, while Kane equalised from the spot after a controversial VAR intervention led to the awarding of a penalty.

The second half was more even, with the Dutch causing England more problems and conceding fewer chances. England did put the ball in the back of the net after 80 minutes, but Bukayo Saka’s finish was disallowed because Kyle Walker was ruled offside. Shortly after, Southgate made his decisive substitutions. There was no way back for the Netherlands once Watkins had struck the decisive blow.

How the managers saw it

“It was a complicated game,” said Southgate. “They kept changing, we had to keep changing how we were defensively, especially, but I thought we caused problems all night and the end is so special for the squad. It’s an example of what this squad are giving to the cause.

“I’m so chuffed for Ollie to get his moment. We just felt, energy-wise, we were starting to lose a bit and Harry got a knock in the first half, of course. Ollie presses well, he makes runs behind and we thought it was a good moment to try it.”

“I’m disappointed after a match which started so well for us,” said the Netherlands manager, Ronald Koeman. “After that we had some problems in midfield with [Jude] Bellingham and Foden between the lines. We made changes to control the game and in the last 20 minutes we were the better team, attacking more, but it was a knockout on 90 minutes.”

England’s number 10 spaces

Once the game settled after the early goals, England built with a back three, forming a 3-4-2-1 against the Dutch 4-2-3-1 shape. A key numerical overload in central midfield allowed England to dominate the ball, but also create chances. Between the lines, Foden and Bellingham swapped sides regularly, positioning themselves either side of the deepest Dutch pivot, then exploiting the inside channels either side of Kane (below). Kobbie Mainoo and Rice added further support, as England’s central midfield dominated most of the first half.

With right-footed full-back Kieran Trippier attacking from the left, England lacked support and a natural flow on this side. Instead, England’s right side looked most promising during their sustained spells of possession. Saka and Foden rotated well, supported by Mainoo’s movements off the ball (below). Kane’s dropping also added a nice link into these forward runs, with Saka and Foden, especially, causing problems within the inside-right channel. Foden’s mazy dribble was unlucky not to end in a goal, with Dumfries clearing off the line.

Pressing the Dutch

England’s strong first half was aided by their committed pressing. Bellingham, Kane and Foden operated as a front-line trio, pressing the Dutch centre-backs, goalkeeper and left-back Nathan Aké. Saka withdrew to help Rice and Mainoo cover the Dutch midfield trio, while Trippier performed a duel role in supporting Guéhi but also being ready to jump on to Dumfries (below). Depay’s dropping runs did cause England the odd issue, but once John Stones committed to these, England nullified most of the Netherlands’ deeper build.

Unable to break through or around England’s press and high block, the Netherlands soon resorted to long balls over England’s back line. Cody Gakpo ran inside to join Depay – and later Donyell Malen – in a front-line duo. But with Saka tracking back anyway, Walker could tuck inside as England’s three centre-backs overloaded the Dutch front two (below). England’s back line won most first and second contacts to regain possession, while Rice and Mainoo were also on hand to win the ball back.

Second-half changes

Both coaches made half-time changes, with Luke Shaw a straight swap for Trippier on England’s left. Koeman had been forced to replace an injured Depay in the first half, bringing on midfielder Joey Veerman and shifting Malen central. The Dutch coach then removed Malen at the break, bringing on Wout Weghorst in attack, and shifting Simons to a more narrow defensive position.

This helped the Netherlands deal with England’s box midfield, as Simons narrowed significantly from the right, usually covering and tracking Rice. This then allowed the initial Dutch central-midfield trio to go player-oriented in their marking of Bellingham, Foden and Mainoo, to deprive England of their numerical overload. Weghorst screened and tried to lock England’s centre-backs one way, defending underloaded. This allowed the Dutch centre-backs to maintain a 2v1 with Kane, as they were no longer impacted or drawn out by England’s number 10s (below).

Although Shaw gave Southgate’s side better balance, the Dutch defensive changes nullified most of England’s second-half play. As England lacked penetration, tempo or adapted attacking patterns, they began to rely more on individual quality. Walker’s overlapping cross found Saka in a rare moment of quality, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Cue Southgate’s attacking substitutions, and the excellent combination between Palmer and Watkins (below) that secured England’s place in the final.

The England head coach remains unbeaten in 13 European Championship games,  including the 1-1 draw with Italy in the Euro 2020 final. That occasion ended in a penalty shootout defeat, but England’s doggedness, improvement and some clinical finishing at Euro 2024 have given them another chance to win this trophy for the first time. 

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