Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - England Training - Blankenhain, Germany - July 9, 2024 England manager Gareth Southgate during training REUTERS/Lee Smith
(Reuters) - Gareth Southgate's England and Ronald Koeman's Netherlands meet in the Euro 2024 semi-finals on Wednesday and both managers have fond memories of facing the same opposition as players at the European Championship, but with contrasting final outcomes.
The Dutch went into Euro 1988 with Koeman at the heart of their defence in a side which included Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, and Koeman's older brother Erwin, currently his assistant manager.
England and Netherlands met at the group stage in a crunch game after they had both lost their opening match, with England shocked by Ireland and the Dutch downed by the Soviet Union.
England hit the woodwork twice in the first half before Van Basten put the Dutch ahead and, although Bryan Robson pulled his side level after the break, Van Basten went on to complete his hat-trick in a 3-1 win.
Koeman scored a penalty in the 2-1 semi-final win over hosts West Germany, but is probably best remembered for what happened after that game, swapping jerseys with Olaf Thon and pretending to wipe his backside with it.
The Netherlands went on to win their first and to date only major trophy, beating the Soviets in the final, with Koeman one of six Dutch players named in the UEFA Team of the Tournament.
Koeman played his last international game at the 1994 World Cup while Southgate made his England debut at the end of 1995, and was an ever-present in the team which shouldered England's dreams at Euro 1996.
England played the Netherlands at Wembley Stadium in the final group game, with both sides level on four points at the top of Group A, and the hosts put in what was seen by many as one of their finest ever performances.
England put on a masterclass against the Dutch, taking a 4-0 lead with Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham each scoring twice before Patrick Kluivert pulled one back 12 minutes from time, a goal which put them through at Scotland's expense.
That victory had England really believing, and a penalty shootout success followed against Spain, but a 1-1 semi-final draw with Germany meant they would face penalties once more.
Both sides put away their opening five spot-kicks before Southgate stepped up for the first sudden death penalty, putting his effort was too close to the goalkeeper. Andreas Moeller converted his kick and Germany went on to win the Euros.
England went 22 years without a win over the Netherlands after that victory, but Southgate was at the helm when they ended the drought in a 1-0 friendly success in 2018, Koeman's first game as the Dutch side's manager.
Koeman got his revenge a year later with a 3-1 win in the Nations League semi-finals but the managers will now do battle in Dortmund for a far bigger prize with a Euros final at stake.
(Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Ken Ferris)
