Report from Euro 2024 as a objective from Cody Gakpo and two from Donyell Malen ship Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands into quarter-finals of match; the Dutch will face Turkey in Berlin on Saturday
By Dan Lengthy, Digital soccer journalist @DanLong__
8:17, UK, Wednesday 03 July 2024
Netherlands booked their place within the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, regardless of lacking a hatful of probabilities, with a 3-0 win over Romania in Munich.
Ronald Koeman’s facet had 23 makes an attempt on the night time, however it was a wonderful Cody Gakpo strike within the first half and a late double from half-time substitute Donyell Malen that sealed their place within the final eight.
Romania had approached their first knockout recreation since Euro 2000 with no worry. Their vitality and positivity meant the Dutch had been compelled to drop deep by the 10-minute mark. It was solely a fleeting interval of nervousness, although.
Picture:
Cody Gakpo races away to have fun Netherlands’ opening objective towards Romania
Gakpo has been the Dutch talisman of late and he added his third objective of the match when he took a contact inside Andrei Ratiu and hit a crisp strike that beat goalkeeper Florin Nita at his close to put up.
In consequence, he turned simply the third participant to attain three or extra targets at two totally different main tournaments for the Netherlands, together with Johnny Rep and Dennis Bergkamp.
Stefan de Vrij then headed inexplicably large from shut vary, earlier than Radu Dragusin’s well-timed slide took Denzel Dumfries’ sq. ball away from the toes of Memphis Depay and Xavi Simons dallied when in a main place to shoot.
It ought to have been 2-0 or 3-0 on the break – and the wastefulness continued after it. Romania survived an almighty scramble shortly after the restart, earlier than Virgil van Dijk’s header glanced the put up and Gakpo was denied a second by VAR after straying offside when he poked in Malen’s knock-on.
Depay then struck a free-kick inches previous the left-hand put up, earlier than Joey Veerman slid a shot agonisingly throughout the face of objective – however they lastly received the decisive second when Gakpo stored the ball alive on the byline and squared for Malen, who couldn’t miss.
The spectacular Malen added the gloss with the ultimate motion of the match, latching onto Simons’ neat ball, chopping inside Razvan Marin and discovering the underside nook.
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Stats: Story of the match
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Koeman: We have to win one thing with our expertise
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman: “It’s typically tough to say why you play dangerous in a single recreation after which can attain a excessive degree the following match.
“We had been sharp from the start at present and that made the distinction. Perhaps one vital level is that it took too lengthy to attain the second objective.
“We now have nice expertise on this workforce however in fact it is advisable to win one thing, then folks can begin to evaluate with [winning the Euros in] 1988.
“However it’s harder now, soccer has modified, it’s extra bodily, it is advisable to be quick and technically good.
“England, Portugal, everyone has their very own issues to proceed on this match.”
Van Dijk happy to beat ‘turbulent week’
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk: “Very proud, certain, and happy as properly. We had been defensively sound and stable and didn’t surrender a lot. We may have scored much more.
“After a turbulent week, the place quite a bit was mentioned, we needed to present one thing and we did that. We’re self-critical and we knew it needed to be quite a bit higher after the final recreation and everybody needed to take accountability and at present they confirmed they needed to.
“Everybody went for the duels, gained the second ball and made the probabilities. Taking part in good soccer provides us self-confidence.”
Dragus: We’re happy to make nation proud
Romania ahead Denis Dragus: “Sadly we cease right here, however I believe we gave all of it and we’re glad that we managed to make folks joyful. We’re sorry that we could not do extra. The small print make the distinction at this degree. After the primary objective, issues modified.”
Who performs who within the quarter-finals?
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