On Wednesday evening, Sportin Wales‘ beloved Netherlands face England in the semi final of EURO 2024, aiming to reach a first European Championship final since they won the competition in 1988.

In their way is an old foe of both the Dutch and the Welsh: England.

While Netherlands do not quite have the local rivalry of Wales and England, their contests on the football pitch have inspired no little animosity between the two nations.

Ahead of tonight’s massive game, Sportin Wales have taken a look at the history of the fixture.

Early English Dominance

Either side of World War II, England were a powerful footballing nation. Until their famous 3-6 defeat at the hands of Hungary in 1953, they were unbeaten at home.

The first meeting between these sides occurred in 1935, with England winning at tight 0-1 in Amsterdam thanks to a goal from Portsmouth outside right Fred Worrall.

The nations did not meet again until after the war, with England thrashing Netherlands 8-2 in one of the first international matches after the conflict.

Chelsea striker Tommy Lawton scored four that day as England ran rampant in Huddersfield.

Peters Double Earns First Dutch Victory

By the 1970s, Holland were a coming force in international football.

Feyenoord had won the European Cup that season and Netherlands earnt a 0-0 draw at Wembley against the Sir Alf Ramsey’s world champions.

Come 1977, however, and it was a different story altogether.

Netherlands were in the midst of their total football glory era, having reached the final of the 1974 World Cup and coming third at EURO ’76.

The team was dominated by the wildly successful Ajax side of the early 70s and managed by the legendary coach Ernst Happel. On the other side, England had failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup as well as the 1972 and 1976 EUROs.

Sir Alf was gone and Don Revie had replaced him to little success. Over 90,000 turned up at Wembley Stadium and those who witnessed the match were widely regarded to have seen one of the finest displays ever produced by a side at the old stadium. Sadly it was the visitors, orchestrated by Johan Cruyff, that hit all the right notes.

Jan Peters grabbed both goals in a 2-0 win for the Dutch but it was Cruyff who was pulling the strings all night. Both goals saw England pulled apart by intricate passing moves before Peters applied the finishing touches.

So good were Holland that the Wembley crowd were torn between applauding the Dutch and chanting “Boring Boring England.”

Van Basten’s Iconic Hattrick

A couple more friendlies followed in the 1980s, but EURO 1988 would be the first time these two nations met at a major tournament.

36-years ago, the European Championship was held in West Germany and two sides found themselves in a group featuring the Soviet Union and Republic of Ireland. For England, this tournament was a disaster. Bobby Robson’s lowest moment as coach as his side lost all three games.

For Netherlands, EURO ’88 remains the pinnacle of their success. Despite losing their opener to the Soviet Union, they would bounce back three days later with a 3-1 victory over England.

England had chances, with Gary Lineker and Glenn Hoddle both hitting the post in the first half. Van Basten’s opener for the Netherlands was cancelled out by a Bryan Robson equalizer just after halftime, but two goals in five second-half minutes allowed the AC Milan striker to complete his hattrick and seal a Dutch win.

World Cup Stalemate

Two years later, Netherlands, England, and the Republic of Ireland met again at Italia ’90. The group was notoriously dull, with no side scoring more than one goal in any game, and one victory in six matches.

England’s 0-0 draw with Netherlands, who were one of the pre-tournament favourites, was a clear sign that the Three Lions had progressed from their low point in 1988, albeit not a match that will live long in the memory of fans.

England Miss Out On USA ’94

England has failed to qualify for just one World Cup since the 1970s, and it was the Netherlands that denied them a place at USA ’94.

Graham Taylor’s England had had a poor campaign, taking just one point from two games against Norway, who topped the qualifying group.

England squandered a two-goal lead at home to the Dutch at Wembley, but when they went to Rotterdam — their penultimate game in the group — England still had qualification in their own hands.

With Paul Gascoigne suspended, England fell behind to a free kick just after the hour mark by Koeman — who the visitors felt should have been sent off earlier on — before Dennis Bergkamp sealed a 2-0 Dutch win.

England’s Greatest EUROs Day

The nations met again in the group stage at EURO ’96. Both teams had taken four points from their first two matches before meeting at Wembley, where Alan Shearer opened the scoring with a penalty and added another goal early in the second half, in between a brace by Teddy Sheringham.

Patrick Kluivert’s late goal for the Dutch made the final score 4-1 as England — which had current boss Gareth Southgate in defence — won the group and the Netherlands squeezed through in second place ahead of Scotland.

The Dutch lost on penalties to France in the quarterfinals, while England were beaten in a shootout in the semi finals by Germany, with Southgate missing the crucial kick.

Friendly Draws and a Nations League Meeting

After 1996, England and Holland met in eight friendlies over a 17-year period, with four draws, three Dutch victories, and a single English win in 2018 under Gareth Southgate.

The most recent clash between these two was in the 2019 UEFA Nations League semi final, with Netherlands winning 3-1 in extra time. Ronald Koeman’s side would lose the final against Portugal, with England taking third place with a shootout win against Switzerland.

Both sides have had relatively rocky European Championship campaigns so far, with England struggling in attack, while the Netherlands look fairly leaky in defence.

Predicted Teams

England XI: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Guehi, Trippier; Rice, Mainoo; Saka, Bellingham, Foden; Kane.

Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Ake; Schouten, Reijnders, Simons; Depay, Weghorst, Gakpo.