England vs Netherlands facts

The winners of the last two UEFA Women's EURO tournaments meet on Matchday 2 in Zurich as England take on Netherlands in Group D.

Netherlands recorded a 3-0 win against England's neighbours Wales on Matchday 1, when the Lionesses became the first Women's EURO champions to lose the opening match of their final tournament title defence after a 1-2 defeat by France.

Netherlands will be through to the quarter-finals if they beat England and Wales do not beat France in the other Group D game on Matchday 2.

England will be unable to reach the quarter-finals if they lose to Netherlands and France avoid defeat by Wales.

Previous meetings

A Netherlands side coached by current England boss Sarina Wiegman were 3-0 winners in the Women's EURO 2017 semi-finals in Utrecht. A goal in each half from Vivianne Miedema and Player of the Match Daniëlle van de Donk put the hosts in control before Millie Bright's own goal in added time.

That was their second encounter at a Women's EURO; the first came in 2009, also a semi-final, with Jill Scott's 116th-minute header earning England a 2-1 win in Tampere and a place in the final.

Drawn together in qualifying for Women's EURO 2013, unbeaten England finished a point ahead of second-placed Netherlands in Group 6; the two sides had played out a goalless draw in Zwolle before a Rachel Yankey goal earned a 1-0 home win in Manchester.

They most recently exchanged home wins, both secured by added-time winners, in the 2023/24 UEFA Women's Nations League. Netherlands, who ultimately topped Group 1 ahead of England, were 2-1 winners in Utrecht while the Lionesses came from two goals down in Wembley to prevail 3-2.

Form guide

England

England have work to do in Group D after their loss to France, also in Zurich. Two quick-fire goals late in the first half put Les Bleues in control, and although Keira Walsh struck late on, the holders were unable to muster an equaliser.

England qualified for their tenth finals, and seventh in succession, after finishing runners-up to France in Group A3 (W3 D2 L1), ahead of Sweden and Republic of Ireland.

Alessia Russo struck three times during qualifying, one more than team-mate Georgia Stanway.

Wiegman's England defeated Germany at Wembley in the final of Women's EURO 2022 to win their first major trophy. Ella Toone (62) put England in front and, though Germany took the game to extra time, substitute Chloe Kelly forced in the winner for the tournament hosts.

England's 8-0 win against Norway in the 2022 group stage is the biggest margin of victory in Women's EURO history.

The Lionesses have also twice been runners-up, losing 3-4 on penalties to Sweden in 1984 after the two-legged final had ended 1-1 on aggregate (0-1 a, 1-0 h), and 2-6 to Germany in the 2009 final in Helsinki.

England have reached at least the semi-finals in three of the last four tournaments.

Following their 2022 success, during which they became the second nation after Germany to go through the group stage without conceding, England reached the final of the 2023 Women's World Cup, losing 0-1 to Spain in Sydney.

Wiegman, in charge since September 2021, is the only coach to win the EURO title with two different countries following her 2017 success with Netherlands.

Netherlands

Miedema (45+3) – with her 100th international goal – Victoria Pelova (48) and Esmee Brugts (57) were all on target for Netherlands as they defeated debutants Wales 3-0 in Lucerne on Matchday 1.

With a record of W2 D3 L1, Netherlands finished behind Italy on head-to-head points in qualifying Group A1, enough to secure automatic passage to their fifth finals as they accumulated more points than both Norway and Finland.

There were just eight goals scored in Netherlands' six games, with Lineth Beerensteyn scoring three of her side's four goals.

As hosts Netherlands defeated Denmark 4-2 in the 2017 final in Enschede, all-time top scorer Miedema (10, 89) striking in each half either side of goals from Lieke Martens (28) and Sherida Spitse (51).

The Oranje made their first appearance in the finals in 2009 when they lost that semi-final to England, and they have been ever-presents since then, only failing to progress from the group stage in 2013.

Netherlands' 2022 tournament was ended by a 0-1 extra-time defeat by France in the quarter-finals after they had finished second behind Sweden in Group C (W2 D1).

Women's World Cup runners-up to the United States in 2019, Andries Jonker's side lost to champions Spain in the 2023 quarter-finals and finished fourth in the inaugural UEFA Women's Nations League in 2023/24.

Jonker succeeded Mark Parsons as head coach in August 2022, having previously been in charge on an interim basis in 2001. The 62-year-old is set to step down following Women’s EURO 2025, and will be replaced by Arjan Veurink who is currently serving as Wiegman's assistant at England.

Key facts

• Wiegman had won all her games as a coach at Women's EURO final tournaments with both Netherlands and England before the opening defeat by France.

• All 35 of England's Women's EURO final tournament matches have featured at least one goal.

• England have never started a Women's EURO final tournament group stage with successive defeats.

• Alex Greenwood won her 100th cap for England on Matchday 1.

• Netherlands have not lost a match in the group stage at the last three final tournaments (W6 D1).

• Netherlands have lost only one of their last 11 Women's EURO finals matches (W9 D1).

• The Dutch are aiming to start a Women's EURO final tournament with successive wins for the second time, having previously done so in 2017 when they went on to win the competition.