Roy Keane revealing his England v Netherlands prediction (Picture: YouTube)
Roy Keane has revealed his prediction for England’s Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands.
Despite underwhelming in Germany, the Three Lions are just two wins away from lifting their first major trophy in men’s football since 1966.
England kick-started their Euros campaign with a nervy 1-0 win over Serbia before failing to beat Denmark and Slovenia but still managing to top Group C and entering the easier side of the draw.
Gareth Southgate’s side then avoided an embarrassing last-16 defeat to Slovakia thanks to Jude Bellingham’s injury-time equaliser and Harry Kane’s extra-time winner.
England also went behind against Switzerland in the quarter-finals before Bukayo Saka rescued the Three Lions and gave them the chance to progress on penalties, which they did to set up a semi-final meeting with the Netherlands.
Ronald Koeman’s side only amassed four points from three Group D games but advanced to the knockout stages as one of the best third-place teams at the Euros.
They then outclassed Romania before coming from behind to beat Turkey and reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2004.
Gareth Southgate’s side are two wins away from lifting the trophy (Picture: Getty)
Keane was not particularly impressed with the Netherlands’ performance against Turkey and therefore expects England to triumph in Dortmund on Wednesday night to reach the Euro 2024 final.
However, the former Manchester United captain has warned Southgate and his players that they will have to improve to beat the winner of the other semi-final in Sunday’s showpiece event in Berlin.
Spain and France go head-to-head on the other side of the draw after knocking out Germany and Portugal respectively in the last round.
France face Spain in the other Euro 2024 semi-final (Picture: Getty)
‘I fancy England to win the semi-final [against the Netherlands],’ he said on Stick to Football: The Overlap Special, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘We watched the game – Turkey and Holland – and England will beat Holland. But with that level of performance against France or Spain, if they’re at it, it probably wouldn’t be enough for England, but you cross that bridge when you get to it.
‘Emotionally, the energy levels are back up there with England, Gareth [Southgate] – we spoke about his interview a couple of days ago – but [on Saturday] he was [upbeat] but that’s what a win gives you.’
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Keane added: ‘England are in a great place. If you’re in that England camp – it’s about peaking at the right time, staying in games, they’ve got match winners.
‘Even [Bukayo] Saka’s goal [against Switzerland], players producing – that was world class.
‘Even the penalties, the lads coming off the bench scoring goals, if you’re Gareth’s players, I’m telling you – it’s going along nicely.’
Keane says he ‘never thought’ Switzerland would eliminate England in Dusseldorf, despite the fact Breel Embolo gave the Swiss the lead on 75 minutes before Saka equalised to take the tie to extra time.
‘I never thought England would lose,’ Keane said. ‘How they get there, you never know how it’s going to be – it’s going to be tight, maybe a mistake, or penalties.
‘We talk about going back to our own careers – the cup runs we had, and there’s games we look back on, maybe two or three games, there’s other teams who have played a lot better.
‘There are teams playing worse than England who are still in the tournament, we can go back to the French, a couple of days ago we said Austria have great players, they are out of it. That’s just the nature of sport.’
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