MUNICH (AP) — The Netherlands delivered their most compelling performance of Euro 2024 on Tuesday, dismantling Romania 3-0 to advance to their first European Championship quarterfinal in 16 years. This decisive victory signals a potential peak in form at just the right moment for the Dutch squad.
Cody Gakpo ignited the scoring in the 20th minute, setting the stage for a dominant display. Substitute Donyell Malen then sealed the win with two late goals, propelling the Netherlands into their first quarterfinal appearance in the tournament since 2008. The emphatic win over Romania in this Romania Netherlands Euros 2024 match has boosted hopes for Dutch fans.
“I think the whole performance today was outstanding and that’s what we need to have a chance to continue in this tournament,” declared coach Ronald Koeman. “This is the level. If you go down in that level, then we don’t reach the final.” Koeman emphasized the significance of maintaining this elevated level of play as they progress further in Euros 2024 Romania Netherlands knockout stage.
Despite numerous earlier opportunities and a Virgil van Dijk header hitting the woodwork, the Netherlands showcased a marked improvement from their group stage outings, particularly after their 3-2 loss to Austria. This victory against Romania in the Romania vs Netherlands Euros 2024 round of 16 clash demonstrates their capability to bounce back and perform under pressure.
A potential rematch looms for Koeman’s side in Berlin on Saturday against Austria, should they prevail over Turkey in the final round of 16 match later Tuesday. The prospect of facing Austria again after their previous encounter adds an intriguing layer to the Netherlands’ journey in Euro 2024 Netherlands Romania tournament.
“Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why you play bad,” Koeman reflected. “Even today, the start was difficult. They were really aggressive. But finally we found our ball position.” He acknowledged the initial challenges posed by Romania but praised his team’s ability to adapt and find their rhythm in this crucial Netherlands Romania Euro 2024 game.
“What we created was good football … Maybe one critical point was that it took too long to score the second one. … It’s difficult to explain why one time you play badly and the next time you are really sharp from the beginning.” Koeman pondered the inconsistency in performance, highlighting the team’s sharpness in this Romania Netherlands Euro 2024 match compared to previous games.
Romania’s Euro 2024 Journey Ends, Fans Celebrate
Despite the defeat, the match against the Netherlands marked a memorable occasion for Romania and their passionate supporters, who have been a vibrant presence throughout the tournament. This Romania Netherlands Euros 2024 game marked only the second time Romania had reached the knockout stage of a European Championship, achieving this milestone as group winners.
The “bouncing yellow wall” of fans at one end of the stadium provided an unforgettable send-off, continuing to sing and applaud their team long after the final whistle. Their unwavering support transformed the atmosphere, making it feel almost like a victory for Romania despite the scoreline of this Netherlands vs Romania Euro 2024 encounter.
“Today we ended a great story, which we started two years ago. We continued that story here in Germany along with the fans of the national team,” said Romania coach Edward Iordănescu. “The team gave a great effort, but there is some sadness.” Iordănescu expressed pride in his team’s journey and the connection forged with the fans during this Euro 2024 Romania Netherlands tournament.
“We wanted more, but we gave our all. Thank you to my lads, the supporters and Romanians everywhere in the world who supported us.” He conveyed gratitude to his players and the Romanian fans worldwide for their support throughout their Romania Netherlands Euro 2024 campaign.
Dutch Dominance Unfolds on the Pitch
Romania actually controlled possession in the initial phase until Gakpo’s breakthrough goal, but they struggled to genuinely challenge Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. The opening goal materialized when Xavi Simons surged forward and located Gakpo on the left flank. The Liverpool forward skillfully cut inside defender Andrei Rațiu and slotted the ball into the near bottom corner, marking a pivotal moment in this Netherlands Romania Euros 2024 match.
Gakpo’s goal marked his third of the tournament, placing him among the top scorers alongside Germany’s Jamal Musiala, Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze, and Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz. His performance in the Romania Netherlands Euro 2024 game further solidified his status as a key player for the Dutch team.
“We tried to surprise the Netherlands today and I think it worked well until the 20th minute,” Iordănescu admitted, acknowledging their initial strategy against the Netherlands in this Euro 2024 Netherlands vs Romania fixture.
The opening goal visibly boosted the Dutch confidence, leading to a series of opportunities to extend their advantage. A significant contingent of orange-clad fans believed they had doubled the lead when Stefan De Vrij connected with a corner, but his header narrowly missed the right post.
Despite commendable goalkeeping from Florian Niță and some Dutch finishing inaccuracies, Romania remained within striking distance until the final minutes. The tension remained high in this Romania v Netherlands Euro 2024 knockout match.
Van Dijk later struck the post with a header in the second half, and a Gakpo goal was disallowed for offside. However, Gakpo turned provider, keeping the ball in play under pressure and setting up Malen to score the crucial second goal. This decisive moment in the Netherlands vs Romania Euros 2024 game effectively sealed Romania’s fate.
The Netherlands capped off their dominant performance in stoppage time when Simons released Malen for a rapid run from the halfway line, culminating in a composed finish past Niță. Malen’s second goal in the Netherlands Romania Euro 2024 game underscored the Dutch team’s superior performance and secured their quarterfinal spot.
Malen’s final goal involved navigating not only the scrambling Romanian defense but also an errant shoe on the field, seemingly thrown by a Romanian fan. This unusual detail added a quirky footnote to the conclusive moments of the Romania Netherlands Euros 2024 match.
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
