England Under-21s 'can handle the heat' vs Netherlands in Euro semi-final

England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley insists his squad won't use the scorching Bratislava heat as an excuse when they face the Netherlands in the European Championship semi-finals.

After a stunning victory over Spain, Carsley's young Lions are gearing up to defend their title, with the Dutch standing between them and a potential final against France or Germany.

With temperatures expected to soar above 30 degrees Celsius at the Tehelne Pole stadium on Wednesday, Carsley has made it clear that the heat won't be a factor for England.

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"We've not shied away from the heat," Carsley remarked.

"We've exposed the players to it fully. We're ready for it. We're fully prepared now."

The England coach revealed that the team has been training during the hottest parts of the day, albeit unintentionally due to their schedule.

"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."

Carsley also highlighted the tactical use of substitutions to combat the challenging conditions, suggesting they've made changes earlier than usual to keep players fresh.

Following a shaky start in Group D, the Netherlands have tightened their defence, conceding only once in three matches and securing their semi-final spot with a win over Portugal.

Carsley expects the Dutch to provide a test for England similar to the one they faced against Spain in the quarter-finals.

"The Netherlands are a team that we've been watching now for a while," added the Young Lions' boss.

"They're very attacking, very expansive in the way they play, technically very good.

"I really like the system that they play as well, very similar to the Spanish. We expect a really tough game and we're fully prepared for it."