The England U21s face the Netherlands U21s in a highly anticipated European Championship semi-final today, June 25, 2025, in Bratislava. Kick-off is scheduled for 5pm BST. The winner will progress to the final to face either Germany or France, who play in the other semi-final.
England, managed by Lee Carsley, are the current holders, having won the tournament in 2023. Their journey to this stage has been a mix of highs and lows. They qualified as top scorers but had a somewhat shaky group stage, squeezing through in second place. However, they found their stride in the quarter-final, delivering a convincing 3-1 victory against a strong Spain side. Carsley believes his team is now clicking at the right time. A key absentee for England is Tyler Morton due to suspension. However, Elliot Anderson is expected to return to the starting lineup, and Jonathan Rowe is also a strong contender to feature in attack. James Beadle is expected to start in goal, having become the preferred choice in recent months. Carsley has acknowledged the challenge the Netherlands pose, praising their attacking style and technical ability.
The Netherlands, coached by Michael Reiziger, also had a challenging group stage, needing a win in their final match to advance. They then faced Portugal in the quarter-final, where they were reduced to ten men early in the game but still managed to secure a 1-0 victory. The Dutch will be without Ruben van Bommel, who was sent off in the quarter-final, as well as Devyne Rensch and Kenneth Taylor, who are both suspended. Jorrel Hato will captain the side in the absence of Rensch and Taylor. Despite these absences, goalkeeper Robin Roefs insists the team is ready to prove their quality and that they have a good team with depth.
The match is being played at the National Football Stadium, Bratislava. For viewers in the UK, the game will be broadcast live on Channel 4. In the US, the match will be available on ViX.
Both teams have pedigree in this competition, with England reaching the semi-finals for a record-equalling 11th time and the Netherlands making their seventh appearance at this stage. The last time these two nations met in the U21 Euros was in 2007, also in the semi-finals, with the Netherlands winning on penalties.
England will likely field a 4-2-2-2 formation, while the Netherlands are predicted to line up in a 4-3-3.
