Nations League 2019 LIVE: England vs Netherlands semi-final latest news, build-up, score and goal updates
Follow LIVE updates as England attempt to reach the inaugural Nations League final
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Your support makes all the difference.England take on the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the Nations League tonight, with the Three Lions in touching distance of a first piece of competitive silverware since 1966.
After a slow start to their qualifying campaign, Gareth Southgate’s men sealed their place in the finals of the inaugural competition after beating Spain 3-2 away from home before securing a 2-1 comeback win over Croatia.
Standing in between England and a place in the final is a newly rejuvenated Netherlands team that, after failing to make the 2018 World Cup, has rediscovered its form and menace. Follow live coverage of the match below.
Match preview:
When is it?
England vs Netherlands kicks off at 7.45pm on Thursday 6 June. The match is being staged at the Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes, Portugal.
How can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football. Coverage starts at 7pm.
Sky Sports subscribers will also be able to stream the match via the SkyGo app.
Predicted line-ups
England (4-2-1-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Rice, Barkley; Lingard; Sancho, Sterling, Rashford.
Netherlands (4-3-3): Cillessen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, De Ligt, Blind; De Jong, Van de Beek, De Roon; Bergwijn, Babel, Depay.
A tough test awaits
Whichever side wins tonight will face a very tough test in the final.
Not only are Portugal reigning European champions, but they also have one of the best players in the world fit and raring to go...
Everything you need to know
Let's not get ahead of ourselves just yet, but should England see off the Netherlands tonight to reach their first competitive final since 1966, here is what you will need to know:
Not too long until team news...
A reminder of how we're expecting England to line-up this evening, with Gareth Southgate planning to rest Liverpool and Tottenham's European heroes.
England (4-2-1-3): Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Chilwell; Rice, Barkley; Lingard; Sancho, Sterling, Rashford.
Raheem Sterling makes his 50th appearance for England tonight and as rumoured he also picks up the captain's armband.
England go up against a pretty decent Netherlands side for a place in the Nations League final. Liverpool heroes Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum start as does Matthijs de Ligt.
Netherlands:
Cillessen, Dumfries, de Ligt, van Dijk, Blind, de Roon, de Jong, Wijnaldum, Bergwijn, Depay, Babel
Harry Kane starts on the bench tonight as he's probably still not 100% fit.
How will England go without him?
He has been directly involved in 34% of the 59 goals scored by England under Gareth Southgate with 17 goals and 3 assists; a higher share than any of his teammates.
Gareth Southgate names a relatively young side in this crucial game. Questions will arise after the game as to whether it was the right decision or not but how did the England manager balance his squad?
"It's been a strange, different sort of preparation but every time you get together, there are always complications of some sort," he said.
"We lost eight players with injury in March and young players came in and played brilliantly. We've shown incredible adaptability and resilience as a team.
"I have to assess all the players who were involved in Madrid. It was a unique game and set of circumstances, whether you won or lost, there are emotional and physical implications, and the fact they only arrived on Tuesday and there's been a lot of tactical work to be done."
In the last 14 matches between England and the Netherlands, England have only won two games. There have been seven draws and five losses.
In competitive matches the Netherlands have only lost to England once, at Euro '96 where the three lions won 4-1.
Another win for Gareth Southgate tonight and he'll become the first England manager to win more than once against the Netherlands in all competitions.
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