Jong Oranje can reach the final of a European Championship under 21 for the first time in eighteen years tonight in the Slovak capital Bratislava. The last two times that the Netherlands were in the semi-finals, it went wrong.
The match against Young England is a repeat of the semi-final at the European Championship under 21 in 2007, when Jong Oranje in Heerenveen was stronger in an extremely long penalty series (13-12). Three days later, Foppe de Haan’s team crowned themselves European champions in Groningen by beating Serbia 4-1 in the final.
It meant the second title in a row for Jong Oranje, who won the European Championship in Portugal in 2006 with Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as the star player.
After those successful tournaments, Jong Oranje qualified for a European Championship four more times. In 2013, Jong Italy was too strong with 1-0 in the semi-finals and in 2021 they lost in the semi-final battle of Jong Germany (2-1). Two years ago, Jong Oranje stranded in the group stage without a win.
The European Championship under 21 has been held every two years since 1978 (with the exception of 2006 and 2007). This is the tenth participation of Jong Oranje. The first participation was in 1988, with Gerrit Plomp as the maker of the first Jong Oranje goal ever at a European Championship. The semi-final was the final destination at the time, after a two-parter with Young Greece.
Taylor can equal Brobbey in a possible final
Huntelaar and Maceo Rigters are the all-time top scorers for Jong Oranje at European Championships with four goals. Huntelaar scored all his goals in 2006 and Rigters in 2007. Brian Brobbey is the only player to have scored for Jong Oranje at two different European Championships: in 2021 and 2023.
Kenneth Taylor can equal Brobbey’s achievement at this European Championship, but then Jong Oranje must reach the final. The Ajax midfielder, who scored at the European Championship 2023, is suspended for the semi-final against Young England, as are Ruben van Bommel and Devyne Rensch.
Jong Oranje against Young England starts tonight at 6:00 PM in the National Stadium of Bratislava. In the other semi-final, Germany against France, the kick-off is at 9:00 PM in Kosice. The European Championship final is on Saturday at 9:00 PM in Bratislava.