Key events
Is it wrong to feel a bit short-changed about the Golden Boot race in this year’s Euros? Where’s that six-goal striker we all crave? The leaders this year are only on three although Dani Olmo is in pole due to providing more assists. Spaniards won the Golden Boot in 2008 (David Villa with four) and 2012 (Fernando Torres with a paltry three) so maybe that bodes well for Spain given that they went on to lift the trophy in both those editions. Maybe Harry Kane (2 goals so far), Jude Bellingham (2) or Cody Gakpo (3) can shake things up tonight?
Pretty remarkable what AI can churn out these days. Except this is real!
On email, krishnamoorthy v sees the pics and notes the timing after Messi’s goal helped Argentina overcome Canada in their Copa América semi-final last night: “Morning David, both ‘men’ powered their respective teams to the finals.”
Staying with the obscure…
Bit of a niche thought but Musical Youth seem to have the semi-finals well covered.
“Can’t drink, can’t smoke. Can’t drive, can’t vote. Can curl a football into the top corner.” That’s how Sid Lowe starts his column on Lamine Yamal after the 16-year-old’s sensational performance against France.
Now some proper tactical analysis from Jonathan Wilson as he runs his giant brain over Netherlands v England. Some good airport reads in this lot: ‘The Dumfries protocol’, ‘The Gakpo gamble’ and ‘The Kane question’.
If this all comes down to marginal gains, could some Dutch travel disruption prove decisive? Not according to Gareth Southgate, who glossed over it with this comment. “I don’t see that having any impact on the game. We don’t play till nine o’clock tomorrow, so there’s plenty of time. I’m sure they’ll still get their dinner.” Here’s the story from Reuters. Planes, Trains and … if only they had a pair of twins called Van Driel.
The Netherlands had their travel to Dortmund on Tuesday for the European Championship semi-final against England disrupted and were forced to abandon their plans to travel by train, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said.
Instead, they had to fly to Dortmund from their base in Wolfsburg, arriving at their hotel at 21h35, some four hours later than planned. “The train service was cancelled due to a blockage on the route,” the KNVB said.
They planned to travel at 1600 local time but then had to change plans and take a plane to Dortmund, where they are staying overnight before the game on Wednesday. It meant the pre-match press conference with coach Ronald Koeman was cancelled.
The Dutch had not planned a training session at the stadium, having completed their preparations in Wolfsburg earlier on Tuesday.
Let’s get an early bit of England build-up in the blog with this scene-setter from our man in Dortmund, Jacob Steinberg.
“Can he win the tactical battle? Can England finally click in attack and make it to Berlin? Can they respond if the tide turns in the second half? If not, the Southgate era will be over.”
“This is just one more sign that this is an insatiable team that wants to keep improving,” said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente, somewhat ominously, after the victory over France. Quotes here, including one about wanting to keep Lamine Yamal’s feet on the ground.
That was a cracker, wasn’t it. Especially the first 25 minutes when the lead changed hands twice, the second time for good. Here’s Jonathan Liew’s match report from Munich.
Preamble
Thirty two teams headed to Germany earlier this summer to contest Euro 2024. Now just three remain standing and, despite fans lobbing drinks at Gareth Southgate during this stickiest of runs to the last four, England are one of them. Tonight in Dortmund we’ll find out if Southgate’s men can reach their second Euros final on the trot. Standing in the way are the Netherlands, winners of this tournament way back in 1988 when their run to the final included a Marco van Basten-inspired 3-1 gubbing of England in the group stage.
While all eyes are on England and the Netherlands this evening, our pupils are only just starting to contract after Lamine Yamal’s wonder goal for Spain in their 2-1 semi-final win over France last night. He’s only 16, you know! More reaction from that and big dollops of build-up to tonight’s semi to follow. Read on!…