As the Netherlands prepare to face England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals, manager Ronald Koeman has revealed his preference for who he wants to avoid in the final, according to Metro. In a surprising admission, Koeman stated that he would rather face Spain in the final instead of France.
Koeman's reasoning behind this preference is due to the Netherlands' previous encounter with France in the group stage, which ended in a 0-0 draw. While the result was not unfavorable, Koeman seems to believe that his team's chances of winning the tournament would be better suited against Spain.
However, Koeman was quick to emphasize that the team's focus is solely on the semi-final match against England, and that they need to prioritize preparation for that game first. "We need to prepare ourselves in the best way to play the semi-final," Koeman stressed.
Koeman also downplayed concerns about England's potential fatigue after their penalty shootout win against Switzerland, stating that both teams have had equal time to recover and prepare.
The Netherlands' semi-final match against England is set to take place on July 10, with the winner advancing to the final on July 14. While Koeman's preference for facing Spain is clear, the team will need to overcome the formidable challenge of England first if they hope to reach the final.