England to face Holland in UEFA Nations League semi-finals

England have been drawn against Holland in the semi-finals of the UEFA Nations League next summer.

Portugal will play Switzerland in the other semi-final.

The England vs Holland semi-final is set to be played on Thursday June 6, 2019 at the 30,000-capacity Estadio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimaraes.

The Portugal vs Switzerland game will be at the 50,033-capacity Estadio do Dragao in Porto the previous evening.  

Gareth Southgate’s England will play Holland in the semi-finals of the Nations League

Holland coach Ronald Koeman watches the draw unfold in Dublin on Monday afternoon

Koeman and Southgate discuss the outcome of the draw at the Sherbourne Hotel in Dublin

The four finalists will compete to be the inaugural winners of the UEFA Nations League

The final will be contested on Sunday June 9 to determine the inaugural Nations League champions, with the third-place play-off held earlier that day.

Gareth Southgate’s side played the Dutch as recently as March during their preparations for the World Cup in Russia, winning the friendly 1-0 in Amsterdam.

That was Ronald Koeman’s first game as Dutch coach and their improvement since was plain to see during the Nations League group stage. 

Southgate told Sky Sports News after the draw: ‘They are similar to us with lots of exciting young players coming through, it will be a game of good technical ability and high quality and something both sets of supporters can look forward to.

‘They have already improved [from March], Ronald had them for three days and I’m not surprised given his calibre as a coach. 

‘We know their talents from the Premier League but also some good young players emerging in the Dutch league.

‘They always want to play expensive football but Ronald also has that pragmatism as a coach, he doesn’t leave them wide open and it’s a good balance. 

‘All four teams are well matched I feel. Everyone will think they have a good chance.’ 

The match will conjure fond memories among England fans of the 4-1 trouncing of the Dutch at Euro 96.

Southgate, who played in that match, added: ‘ It was one of my most memorable nights in football, the colour of the occasion, the Dutch fans in orange. 

‘That night we played exceptionally well, it was one of the best England performances of my lifetime.’

Southgate gets a glimpse of the Nations League trophy as he gives a press conference

Koeman said: ‘It is good, it is a semi-final, it is a strong opposition. My first match as the national coach of Holland was against England and we lost that game but this is a good chance to show the improvement of the…