England and the Netherlands play on Wednesday night in Dortmund for the right to take on Spain on Sunday in Berlin in the Euro 2024 final.
England, who lost in the 2020 showdown against Italy, will be attempting to become only the fourth team after the Soviet Union, Germany and Spain to reach consecutive finals in the 64-year history of the competition.
However, unlike the troika, England have failed to lift the crown.
"We have a chance to get to the first final not held in England," said England boss Gareth Southgate on the eve of the clash at the Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.
"So we're we're trying to break new ground," he added. "That's difficult and it's complicated but the players have responded brilliantly and the resilience that's been built ... we've been very fortunate."
England were promoted as one of the favourites for the title but their performances during the group stages swiftly dampened expectations.
They edged past Serbia 1-0 in their opening game in Group C. That was followed by two stalemates against Denmark and Slovenia to give them top place and a last-16 rendez-vous with Slovakia.
Southgate's men were 85 seconds from eleimination when Jude Bellingham scored a spectacular scissors kick to equalise.
In the first minute of extra-time skipper Harry Kane scored his second goal of the tournament to give them the lead and they held on.
In the quarter-finals against Switzerland in Düsseldorf, Bukayo Saka cancelled out Breel Embolo's opener before England claimed the penalty shootout.
Grit
"The players have ground results out and found ways to win," added Southgate. "I felt that shifted once we'd got into the knockout stage and definitely in the quarter final.
"And, you're now into that moment in the tournament where it's more what's possible and 'what's achievable', rather than what might go wrong. "So this is now the chance to make history, which we've enjoyed doing."
Southgate's counterpart, Ronald Koeman, was part of the glittering team that lifted the European crown in 1988, the last time the competition was held in Germany.
“We know that there is really not much difference between the two teams," said the 61-year-old.
"It’s really 50-50 in my opinion. But we will need the perfect game to win.
“We know England have a lot of individual qualities but both teams are really strong and it will be a good fight,” he added.
The Netherlands advanced to the knockout stages as one of the four best third-palced teams.
They beat Romania 3-0 in the last-16 and came from behind to outwit Turkey 2-1 in the last eight in Berlin last Saturday.
"We are sharp. We are focused and we are looking forward to playing a good match against England," Koeman added.
The winners will take on Spain on Sunday night at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
