The Young Lions overcame a daunting task with Spain at the weekend to set up a semi-final showdown with the Dutch in what will be a repeat of the 2007 meeting at this very stage.
On that occasion, Netherlands – as the host nation – emerged victorious via a record penalty shootout in which 32 kicks were taken and went on to win the whole tournament.
Home advantage will not be a factor this evening but the heat in Slovakia is something both teams will have to deal with and England U21s head coach Lee Carsley insists his team are ready for the challenge.
“We’ve not shied away from the heat,” he said. “We’ve exposed the players to it fully. We’re ready for it. We’re fully prepared now.
“We’ve trained at some of the hottest periods of the day, not on purpose but just the way that it’s worked out with our training time.
“We’ve been here long enough now to acclimatise to the heat. We’ve definitely got hydration strategies in place in terms of what the players need to cool down quickly and hydrate quickly.”
How to watch England U21s vs Netherlands U21s
TV channel: In the UK, the match is being shown live and free-to-air on Channel 4, with coverage beginning at 4.40pm BST ahead of an 5pm BST kick-off time – 6pm local time – in Slovakia.
Live stream: You can also watch the game for free live online via the Channel 4 website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action with Standard Sport’s live blog.
