Will England set up a final reckoning with Spain? Only if they play well

In Munich’s semi-final, Euro 2024 was turned on its head. Spain, playing beautifully, beat France, playing if not badly but worse than their opponents. Here was a kick against an orthodoxy that has guided Gareth Southgate’s dysfunctional England to the semis. From the point they stepped off the gas after 30 minutes against Serbia this was supposed to be the tourney where you didn’t have to play well to progress. Having mostly played like a pick-up band on heavy Mandrax, it feels fair to say this England has not captured the nation in quite the way Southgate’s team did in 2018, Euro Not-2020 and even at the Human Rights World Cup in 2022. Frank Skinner, David Baddiel and Ian Broudie’s expected royalties must be down. That song has often been conspicuous by its absence. Pubs and houses decked in the flag of St George? Not so much. Perhaps only that shootout against the Swiss was a shared national moment.

Blame it on the weatherman, to conjure B*Witched? The summer climate has not been conducive to Boxpark pint-chucking or beer-garden carousing. Flares up random orifices are likely to sputter in the rain. There’s been an election, too, though even Jacob Rees-Mogg and Liz Truss getting tinned didn’t cause wild celebrations. Those were expected outcomes. Dear Rishi needed to be as delusional as Scottish fans booking accommodation for the final in Berlin to think he could win.

Perhaps that’s the problem with Southgate’s England. Reaching semi-finals has become par, what with all the talent The Best League in the World ™ produces. The manager himself – a bit prickly these days – is the victim of his own success, in that he’s gone closer to winning than anyone since Sir Alf Ramsey was trying not to drop his aitches. Within that, there’s a danger of becoming Tim Henman, a nearly-man with a determined fist pump but lacking the tools to win the top prizes.

Already, any England fan winces at the idea of Kieran Trippier against Lamine Yamal, 17 on Saturday, who makes Luke Littler look like John Lowe. Perhaps Luke Shaw can play there instead but … ah … yes, the semi, Dortmund and the Dutch. This one’s for Graham Taylor. Big Ron Koeman, having tugged back David Platt in Rotterdam in 1993 then flipped one, flipped one, flipped one past David Seaman, is owed one. He leads a team almost as enigmatic as the English. “What sort of thing is happening here?,” to invoke Taylor. Have Virgil van Dijk’s legs gone or is he just too cool to tackle? Memphis Depay: the lad who played for United? Cody Gakpo: him from Liverpool? Wout Weghorst: still on Burnley’s books? That can’t be Daley Blind? What inside info can Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink supply?

Whatever the answers there, it probably requires England to actually play well to decide whether Berlin or the end of the Southgate era is what follows next.

Join Rob Smyth from 8pm BST for hot Euro 2024 semi-final coverage of Netherlands 1-0 England.

We saw a touch of genius from a footballer who we all need to take care of” – Spain manager Luis de la Fuente speaks for all of us after witnessing 16-year-old Lamine Yamal score that goal against France.

To the story that has lifted Euro 24: Lamine Yamal’s so-called ‘wonder goal’ against France. I would simply point to Bukayo Saka, who has been smashing in similar goals for Arsenal and England (in their last match against Switzerland, for example) for the last few seasons. Lamal’s left-footed curler was wonderful and has diverted attention away from some of the dross that has stunk this tournament out, but lads, lads – it’s football!” – Frank Landamore.

While I suppose England fans will be discussing tactics and the like before the match – across the pond, all fans will be talking about whether to listen to Landon Donovan or just hitting the mute button for the entire match” – Dedric Helgert.

So Cody Gakpo thinks that having the quickest player in the Premier League gives the Dutch the advantage over England. He has watched England at this tournament right? It’s not like you need to be Usain Bolt to keep up with Harry Kane and Declan Rice” – Adrian Foster.

Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Adrian Foster. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.

Álvaro Morata was seen limping and holding his knee after a security guard slipped and slid into him while trying to stop a pitch-invader in Munich. “We don’t think it was anything, it was during the celebrations but we think he’s going to be OK,” said Spain boss Luis de la Fuente.

The Netherlands cancelled their press conference before the semi-final with England due to a change in their travel plans. The result is that we have even fewer Euro-related bobs than usual.

Didier Deschamps has paid tribute to Olivier Giroud, France’s record scorer who bowed out from international football in the defeat by Spain with barely a kick of the ball. “He is an example of longevity, seriousness and professionalism,” soothed Deschamps. “Even though he had less playing time at this Euro, he was fully with the squad. He is one of the leaders. I want to say well done and thank you.”

And Laura Robson has revealed that tennis players at Wimbledon have been glued to the box watching the Euros at every opportunity. “In the player building, that’s been the request on all the TVs for the last few weeks: ‘Can we get the football on’,” she said. “We’ll have tennis on one screen, football on the other.”

German commuters on the A2 may have spotted a bright orange doubledecker bus heading north towards Dortmund. Saving any breakdowns the 1980 rear-engined Bristol VRT will arrive in the west German city, along with an astonishing 75,000 Dutch fans (not all on board the bus) in good time for England’s semi-final with the Netherlands. “We’ve become the symbol of our supporters”, says Netherlands fan Harm Otten. “It was just a silly idea 20 years ago.”

Lionel Messi was on target as Argentina beat Canada 2-0 to book their place in the Copa América final. Their social media bod was also deadly as their TwiXer account took a swipe at Drake over his $300,000 bet on the world champions losing.

Manchester United have accepted a £26.7m offer for Mason Greenwood from Marseille, with the forward to sign for the Ligue 1 club subject to his terms being finalised.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag believes Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s new Manchester United structure has put the club in a very strong position to “attack” the challenge of winning the Premier League and European titles.

Brighton have appointed the Melbourne City manager Dario Vidosic as their head coach on a three-year contract and are targeting a top-four WSL finish.

And Orlando Pride goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse says she was brought to tears when she received her first England call-up at the age of 29, having always remained hopeful that she might one day make the squad.

Lamine Yamal is Spain’s newest generational talent and he is just getting started after breaking a 66-year-old record, writes Sid Lowe.

Is the writing on the wall for Didier Deschamps’s non-football after a meek tournament showing from France, ponders Barney Ronay.

Jacob Steinberg warns that England must show their quality or risk saying farewell to Gareth Southgate on a low. And Louise Taylor looks back at all of England’s Euro clashes with the Dutch featuring Bobby Robson and Terry Venables.

The Netherlands’ Xavi Simons tells Bart Vlietstra that England can be the perfect chance for him to unleash his talent on the biggest stage.

Euro 2024 tournament director, World Cup winner and Euro 2024 Daily colleague, Philipp Lahm, shares the lessons he has learned from Romania’s magic run in Germany.

Across the pond, they have access to a time machine that has taken them back to 2014. Not really but somehow James Rodríguez is rolling back the years for Colombia at the Copa América.

Tom Sanderson and Josué Seixas lament Brazil’s crisis mode after another quarter-final exit reveals the lack of cohesion in the Seleção. And which goalless draws at the Euros have been the most boring? The Knowledge – yawn! – knows.

25 June 2000: Netherlands fans are a photographer’s dream. Here’s a Dutch supporter celebrating his team’s 6-1 win over Yugoslavia at Euro 2000 in a fountain that has been dyed orange.