Image source, Getty Images

After netting just two goals in his first 45 games for England, Raheem Sterling has since scored six goals in his last four appearances for the Three Lions.

Indeed, Sterling, who makes his 50th appearance in this match, has scored with six of his last seven shots on target for England.

WHAT a man.

Image source, PA

Chris Sutton
Ex-Chelsea striker on BBC Radio 5 live

The reality is English managers are still not getting the opportunities at the big clubs.

Chris Wilder has been successful for over a decade and he still hasn't been given an opportunity in the Premier League before getting there himself.

England manager Gareth Southgate: "We were always of the mind that the Champions League final was going to be a hugely intense occasion physically and emotionally for those players.

"It's never easy to leave these guys out but they are professionals and they understand the decison. We have got some great strength to come in to the game and equally we have great pace to hurt the Netherlands early on.

"The young ones have played throughout this competition. We want to develop them, we are building for next year as well as wanting to win this. Delph is a fantasic character, without Henderson's leadership in midfield he gives us this balance.

"Raheem Sterling was not an obvious candidate to be captain a few years ago but he has grown in confidence and maturity. He is a hugely popular player with his team-mates."

BBC Radio 5 Live

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, England midfielder Declan Rice said: "I'm quite a laid back character and I don't really take any notice of social media because life is too short to stress about it. Off the pitch, I have to be mentally strong and that is the way I have always been.

"My confidence comes from my parents and people skills are massive in this day and age, so it comes naturally to me."

Colin: I’m not having Delph starting. Surely we have someone who’s more deserving of a place in CM

HughMarkham: It’s meant to be good luck if a bird poos on you... in which case my friend George has just guaranteed England victory

Park The Bus: Can't wait for Delph to become the first man to dribble past van Dijk since about 2014

Image source, PA

Tonight is Gareth Southgate’s 34th game in charge of England and his 10th starting XI with an average age of under 25 – the previous 17 managers to take charge of England did this just 10 times in 595 matches combined.

This is GREAT Le Tournoi footage...

Rather incredibly - to me, anyway - this is the first competitive meeting of these two sides since England won 4-1 at Wembley in the heady days of Euro 96. WHAT a summer that was...

There have been eight friendlies in that time, with Jesse Lingard's goal in Amsterdam settling the last one in March of 2018.

Image source, Getty Images

When England were beaten 2-1 by Spain at Wembley in their opener and then drew 0-0 in Croatia, a place in the last four didn't look too likely.

But a stunning win in Spain - where Raheem Sterling (2) and Marcus Rashford had them 3-0 up inside a half hour - was followed up with a 2-1 win over World Cup foes Croatia to seal top spot.

Image source, Getty Images

The Netherlands were handed a shocker of a group with world champions France and the mighty Germany - but made it through.

They started with a 2-1 defeat in France, but then whacked Germany 3-0, beat France 2-0 at home and followed it up with a 2-2 draw in Germany - where they came from 2-0 down in the last five minutes...

Ajax weren't too sure about the official Uefa guide to these Dutch names...

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

The great thing about football is confidence. Everybody was united after the World Cup and they bought into England again, so give Gareth Southgate credit for building a good squad. I believe the most important thing is confidence and all of his players have it.

Image source, BBC Sport

Gareth Southgate has made five changes to the England team who thrashed Montenegro 5-1 back in March.

Unsurprisingly, there are no Liverpool and Tottenham players in the starting XI after their Champions League final match on Saturday night.

John Stones and Ben Chilwell are back in defence, while Fabian Delph has been given the nod ahead of Dele Alli in midfield.

Jadon Sancho is in over Callum Hudson-Odoi and Marcus Rashford replaces Harry Kane up front.

England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Barkley, Rice, Delph; Rashford, Sancho, Sterling

Image source, BBC Sport

There is just one change to the Netherlands side who narrowly lost 3-2 to Germany in European qualifying in March.

Steven Bergwijn has come in for Quincy Promes in attack, while the same players line up in defence and midfield.

Skipper Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum are in despite celebrating Liverpool's Champions League win on Saturday.

Netherlands XI: Cillessen, Dumfries, De Ligt, Van Dijk, Blind, De Roon, Wijnaldum, De Jong, Bergwun, Depay, Babel

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

Image source, PA

England may not erase 53 years of hurt here in Portugal as they prepare to start their campaign in the inaugural Uefa Nations League finals - but this is the chance for manager Gareth Southgate and his players to make a powerful statement before next summer's Euro 2020.

It is stretching reality to put this new tournament in the same stratosphere as the true showpieces of the sport such as the World Cup and European Championships.

This is a four-team format in two locations in Porto and Guimaraes, features England, hosts Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland and will be done and dusted in only five days. It is still a tournament that matters.

Chris Waddle
Ex-England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

At the moment, I look at this England team and think they believe they can beat whoever they come up against, which is a great mindset to have.

That is why I am so confident they can get past a resurgent Netherlands side, and then beat Portugal in Sunday's final.

Hosts Portugal are our biggest threat, but I don't think Southgate or his side will fear. Why should we?

Calamity: I love the look of this team. Youth, speed, excitement, unpredictability. The Dutch will be scratching their heads here.

Andy: With the weather and pitch as it is maybe all that pool time and playing on floats last summer was just really great long term planning by Southgate.

Daryl: Interesting lineup from Southgate, only because, if we win, will he stick with this team in the final? If not, why has he not chosen his best team, like Holland have put out?

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Guimaraes

Guimaraes was under leaden skies all day and was hit by a torrential downpour that only relented a couple of hours before kick-off.

It was heavy enough for the French officials, led by referee Clement Turpin, to make a check on the playing surface but conditions have improved and all is well for England's Uefa Nations League semi-final against the Netherlands.

England's line-up is not at full strength but there is still plenty of high quality contained in that line-up.

Image source, PA

Raheem Sterling is the first Manchester City player to captain England in a competitive international since Colin Bell in May 1972 against Northern Ireland in the British Home Championhip - England lost 1-0.

Cristiano Ronaldo is not a man who shares the limelight.

From the 57th to the 88th minute of Wednesday's first Nations League semi-final between Portugal and Switzerland , the video assistant referee (VAR) looked to have established itself as the night's big talking point.

Referee Felix Brych's technology-assisted decision to wipe out his on-field call of a Portugal penalty and instead award the Swiss a spot-kick for an incident seconds earlier was certainly a headline-hogging moment.

Image source, EPA

But having scored once prior to the penalty, Ronaldo was not to be outshone.

With two minutes remaining, the hosts' talisman took control when he caressed his second past Yann Sommer, before completing a terrific hat-trick in injury time to send his country to Sunday's final.

BBC Sport looks back on another decisive night for the man his manager calls a "footballing genius.".