England

England captain Harry Kane believes the players, manager Gareth Southgate and his coaching staff have responded well to the pressure at Euro 2024.

"The expectation has maybe been a little bit different from the start and maybe the noise has been a bit louder but I think we've all handled that really well," said Kane.

"Some players will use it as motivation, some players will block it out.

"We're leaning on a lot of experience, we're leaning on being here before, even just the perception from other teams - when you've been in finals, semi-finals on a consistent basis that gives you a certain aura as a team that other nations look at.

"That's down to our own work. We've built that up over past tournaments and now we're in a situation where we deserve to be."

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Radio 5 Live

Michelle, Sam, Kirsty and Kareem got in touch during the 5 Live phone-in this morning to give their views on how tonight's Euro 2024 semi-final between England and the Netherlands might pan out:

Michelle in Middlesbrough: "Gareth Southgate has brought togetherness. When you have players like England's, you're always going to have special moments. I feel we are just getting started."

Sam from Swindon: "I hope we turn up tonight. The important thing is the outcome and who is there in Berlin on Sunday."

Kirsty in Dortmund: "I think if the stars align, we will grab it. We’ve got the skills and luck has been on our side."

Kareem from Ipswich: "It’s been a rollercoaster - I can't believe we are still in it really. We just haven’t been there and scraping out lucky wins. But I think we can do it, I think the team can do it."

Image source, EPA

Well I wonder, Lee...

Marcel van der Kraan
Dutch football journalist, Marcel van der Kraan speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live

Now, we have seen a different approach [in the Netherlands national team] because in all the years since 1988 [when they last won the European Championship], it’s always been attractive, attacking football.

We had Marco Van Basten, Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkamp, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Robin Van Persie.

Pure class upfront.

Now the class is at the back - Virgil Van Dijk, Nathan Ake. That’s what we are leaning on and it’s a very different kind of approach.

I call England now, a Germain, English team because they play ugly football, but they get there.

Ahh, the split scarf. Such a thorny subject.

Thumbs down if you are in favour, thumbs down if you are not a fan...

Image source, PA Media

Jess Parker
BBC News

Netherlands fans have turned up in Dortmund in huge force.

This city, after all, is not far for them to come which probably explains their high numbers.

While there absolutely are England supporters, the colour orange is dominating the streets at this point.

Shirts, hats, flags & flares - if you like all-things orange, Dortmund is the place to be.

Image source, Getty Images

• In Memphis Depay (17 shots, 10 chances created) and Cody Gakpo (13 shots, 11 chances created), going into the semi-finals the Netherlands were the only side with more than one player to have both 10+ shots and 10+ chances created. Depay and Gakpo have been directly involved in 47 of Netherlands’ 74 shots at this Euros.
• England have gone to extra-time in both of their Euro 2024 knockout ties so far. Only Portugal at Euro 2016, Spain at Euro 2020, and Italy at Euro 2020 have ever gone to extra-time three times in a single edition of the finals.
• The Netherlands have won two different matches having conceded the first goal at Euro 2024, beating Poland 2-1 in the group stages and Turkey by the same score in the quarter-final.

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman spoke to media agencies on Tuesday night after their normal news conference was cancelled due to travel issues.

“We know there is not a big difference between the two nations. It is really 50-50 in my opinion," said Koeman. "We know we need to do the perfect game to win.

“We are prepared for both ways [England’s formation] to compete against them and we know they have a lot of individual qualities. Both teams are really strong and it will be a good fight.

“We are both experienced coaches, Gareth has much more years as a national coach. We played several times against each other.

[On the Dutch fans] “It’s good to know we have a big support from our country.”

Marcel van der Kraan
Dutch football journalist, Marcel van der Kraan speaking on the Football Daily podcast

Marcel tells the Football Daily pundits how the Dutch fans feel about manager Ronald Koeman as the Netherland's prepare to take on England tonight: I think the majority of the Dutch think that Ronald Koeman is very lucky. We are together with England on this. Theirs is a hilarious saying about Ronald Koeman, he is a very good coach, very experienced but he always seems to have a bit of luck on his side.

We say, if Ronald Koeman ever trips over, he trips over a Rolex watch.

Image source, Getty Images

Jess Parker
BBC News

Dutch fans are flooding into Dortmund. I had a quick jog this morning to the south of the city and spotted small gangs of orange everywhere. Even for those who live in the west of the Netherlands - further from Germany - Dortmund is just a few hours drive. So some supporters seem to be parking up on the edge of town and walking in. And just like England fans, they are in high spirits. Let’s see who’s still happy by the end of the night!

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Jess Parker

Image source, Jess Parker

Lee from Bristol: Alan @11:42 - Gareth Southgate has been way more successful than Terry Venables was as England manager. And no, runners-up in the Umbro Cup is not an achievement!

Mitch Rushton
BBC Newsbeat

If you really zoom in on this photo, you’ll just about be able to see a red and green circle on Cole Palmer’s boots next to a white one crossed in red.

Image source, Getty Images

See it now? It’s the flag of St Kitts, next to the St George’s cross – Cole’s tribute to his dad’s, and his own, Caribbean heritage.

“Putting the St Kitts flag on his boot is so important because it reminds us of the history of Britain,” says 1Xtra’s Richie Brave, who recently made a documentary about Windrush.

“The beauty of being a British Caribbean person is an hybridity of identity,” he says.

“It doesn't mean you hate the country that you're from or you hate the country you're born in, it's just celebrating multiple parts of who you are.

“That's why it's so important for role models to directly embrace their roots because it allows us to celebrate along with them.”

The current England squad tells BBC Sounds Football Daily podcast about the tracks they’re listening to in camp - watch the clip below for Kieran Trippier calling out "raver" Jordan Pickford's "horrendous" taste in music.

Speaking of insight into the stars of this England team, let's take more of a look at those hoping to take the Three Lions to the Euro 2024 final when they face the Netherlands this evening.

Bukayo Saka's former teacher Mark Harvey has been speaking to BBC Sport about the England and Arsenal winger.

In the clip below, Harvey says he taught "role model" Saka from year seven to year nine at Greenford High School, Ealing, London.

Apparently Saka still holds the school long jump record and students chant his name. There's also a mural and shirt up at the school in tribute to "an unbelievably polite young man".

Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I found as a player, and I know there's a lot of other players that will be in the same boat. This is the hardest part because it's a long, long way.

It is a 9pm kick-off here, so the players will have their routine, when they are eating, when they are having a nap and the departure time to leave for the stadium.

It's a waiting game and one of the biggest challenges is compressing that nervous energy that you've got building up inside you, which is completely natural on gameday.

It's just about processes. We spoke about penalty processes of the players against Switzerland and how clean and polished they were.

This, for a professional footballer, is just part of the job.

Getting yourself in the zone and as you get to the stadium, the best moment is arriving to the stadium when you see it, and that is the moment to enjoy it and think 'this is the moment to go for it now, put the day behind you and get over it'.

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

It depends what kind of place you are at. Some people do sleep well, some do not. I used to sleep quite well, but it is something that you are doing all the time.

What I used to find is the sleep during the day is hard for an evening kick-off. You're in a rhythm where your body is tired and you are sleeping well, that is a big part of your routine as an athlete. The evening before, you picture what you are doing and sleep pretty well. On the day, when you want to kind of have a little lay down or a nap beforehand, that is tricky because you are so close to the big moment and stuff is racing around your heard. It is just about containing that and being as relaxed as you can.

Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

It's a dangerous one really. Although in my opinion, [Luke Shaw] looked fantastic when he come on, he looked fit and he looked sharp, to go in at the deep end in a European Championship semi-final is a big ask. I think where one of the Dutch's threats lay is on the wings, I think Gareth Southgate will protect him and start with Trippier and use Luke Shaw's left foot to come on and perhaps change the game for England.

Image source, Getty Images

Matthew Upson
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think Southgate will bring [Luke Shaw] on again. Kieran Trippier has been very solid. I know it is not his natural place to be and Luke Shaw is a far more natural fit, but I don't see the sense in changing that at this stage. Luke Shaw is more than capable of coming on and changing the game and I think that is the key for England.

While we talk about the starting line-up, it is very much a collective game this evening, we've seen that in this tournament. The players that are ready to come on and the performances we have seen coming off the bench, Ivan Toney another big one, Cole Palmer can come on and create something magical, there is a big list of players and that is a real strength of a team.