The Euro 2024 tournament has reached its thrilling climax with the quarter-final stage now concluded, setting the stage for the highly anticipated semi-finals. One of the quarter-final matches saw Turkey facing off against the Netherlands in a gripping encounter. Despite a valiant effort and taking the lead, Turkey was ultimately defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands, ending their Euro 2024 journey. This article provides a recap of the Turkey vs Netherlands match and a comprehensive look at the Euro 2024 quarter-finals schedule, results, and the upcoming semi-final clashes.
Match Summary: Turkey vs Netherlands
In a fiercely contested quarter-final match at Euro 2024, Turkey and the Netherlands delivered a captivating performance. Turkey initially took the lead, raising hopes of advancing to the semi-finals. However, the Netherlands mounted a strong comeback in the second half to secure their victory.
Turkey’s Samet Akaydin scored a header in the 35th minute, assisted by Arda Guler, giving Turkey a 1-0 advantage going into halftime. The Netherlands, however, responded in the second half. Stefan De Vrij equalized in the 70th minute, followed by a goal in the 76th minute credited as an own goal by Mert Muldur after a shot from Cody Gakpo, sealing the Netherlands’ 2-1 win.
Team Lineups
Turkey: The Turkish national team started with a lineup that included key players returning from suspension.
- Goalkeeper: Mert Gunok
- Defenders: Mert Muldur, Samet Akaydin, Abdulkerim Bardakci, Ferdi Kadioglu
- Midfielders: Kaan Ayhan, Salih Ozcan, Hakan Calhanoglu (Captain)
- Forwards: Kenan Yildiz, Baris Alper Yilmaz, Arda Guler
Netherlands: The Netherlands team, without any suspended players, fielded a strong starting eleven.
- Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen
- Defenders: Denzel Dumfries, Virgil Van Dijk, Nathan Ake, Stefan De Vrij
- Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnderds, Jerdy Schouten, Xavi Simons
- Forwards: Steven Bergwijn, Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay
Key Match Stats
The match statistics highlight a balanced contest, although the Netherlands dominated possession.
- Possession: Netherlands 59.1%, Turkey 40.9%
- Total Shots: Turkey 15, Netherlands 11
- Shots on Target: Turkey 4, Netherlands 4
- Saves: Mert Gunok (Turkey) 3, Bart Verbruggen (Netherlands) 2
- Corners: Turkey 7, Netherlands 3
- Fouls Committed: Netherlands 16, Turkey 7
Arda Guler of Turkey was recognized as the BBC’s Player of the Match with a rating of 8.88 out of 10, while Cody Gakpo was named the best player for the Netherlands by BBC.
Post-Match Reactions
Following the match, there were notable reactions from coaches and players, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who watched the game in Berlin.
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan: Acknowledged the team’s strong performance against a footballing powerhouse like the Netherlands and praised the enthusiastic support from Turkish fans in Berlin. He also defended coach Montella against criticisms regarding tactical decisions.
- Vincenzo Montella (Turkey Coach): Expressed sadness over the loss but pride in the team’s overall performance in the tournament.
- Ronald Koeman (Netherlands Coach): Complimented Turkey’s excellent performance, noting their passionate play and admitting his team had luck in the final moments.
- Cody Gakpo (Netherlands Player): Recognized Turkey as a very strong team that posed significant challenges throughout the match.
- Hakan Calhanoglu (Turkey Captain): Lamented their exit from the tournament, expressing gratitude for the excitement they brought to their nation.
- Salih Ozcan (Turkey Player): Expressed his happiness at being part of the Turkish national team.
Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals and Semi-Finals Schedule
The Euro 2024 quarter-finals have now concluded, determining the teams advancing to the semi-finals. Here’s a summary of the quarter-final results and the upcoming semi-final schedule:
Euro 2024 Quarter-Final Results:
- Spain 2 – 1 Germany (Spain advanced to Semi-finals)
- Portugal 0 (3) – 0 (5) France (France advanced to Semi-finals after penalty shootout)
- Switzerland 1 (3) – 1 (5) England (England advanced to Semi-finals after penalty shootout)
- Turkey 1 – 2 Netherlands (Netherlands advanced to Semi-finals)
Euro 2024 Semi-Final Schedule:
- Semi-final 1: Spain vs France
- Date: Tuesday, July 14th
- Time: 10:00 PM Turkish Time (TSİ)
- Location: Munich
- Semi-final 2: England vs Netherlands
- Date: Wednesday, July 15th
- Time: 10:00 PM Turkish Time (TSİ)
- Location: Dortmund
The Euro 2024 final is scheduled for July 14th at the Berlin Olympic Stadium.
Conclusion
The Euro 2024 quarter-finals provided thrilling matches and dramatic exits, including Turkey’s narrow defeat to the Netherlands. Football fans are now eagerly anticipating the semi-final clashes between Spain and France, and England and the Netherlands. These upcoming matches promise further excitement as the tournament progresses towards its final in Berlin.
