The Netherlands triumphed in their round of 16 clash against Romania with a convincing 3-0 victory on Tuesday, securing their place in the Euro quarterfinals for the first time since 2008. The win, a significant morale booster, comes on the back of a recent stinging 3-2 defeat to Austria. This match saw the Dutch displaying a much-improved performance, meeting their fans' expectations and silencing some of their critics.
Match Highlights
Cody Gakpo, who has been a standout player in the tournament, scored his third goal, continuing his excellent form. Donyell Malen, who had been relatively quiet until the later stages of the match, scored twice in the dying moments to seal the victory. Virgil van Dijk came close to adding his name to the score sheet as well, nearly netting a header that struck the post.
Romania controlled the tempo for the first quarter of an hour, applying pressure and maintaining fluidity in their game. However, the Netherlands eventually took control and, by the end of the match, had maintained two-thirds of possession and recorded almost five times more attempts on goal than Romania, tallying 24 shots. This dominance underlines the effectiveness of the Dutch strategy and their capacity to perform under pressure.
Key Players and Moments
In the 83rd minute, Cody Gakpo showcased his vision by setting up Donyell Malen for his first goal. Malen's second goal came in stoppage time, reinforcing the Dutch dominance and quelling any hope of a Romanian comeback. Xavi Simons received widespread praise for his performance, with his aggressive and forward-driving play providing a critical boost for the team.
Reflecting on the outcome, Virgil van Dijk said, "Very proud, sure, and pleased as well. We were defensively sound and solid and did not give up much. We could have scored a lot more. After a turbulent week, where a lot was said, we had to show something and we did that. We are self-critical and we knew it had to be a lot better after the last game and everyone had to take responsibility and today they showed they wanted to."
Indeed, the comments from the team highlight a shift in mentality and approach from their previous performance. "I thought there were a lot of good things we did. The team realised that the last game was really bad in all aspects and so they have given out a strong message. We played well in the whole game, except the first 10 minutes when there was a lot of pressure," said coach Ronald Koeman.
Strategic Adjustments
Koeman also pointed out the strategic adjustments made following their analysis of Romania. "We had analysed Romania well. Belgium showed us there was a lot of space to exploit [against Romania]. But it took a long time before we got the second goal," he noted. Despite this, Koeman was never in doubt about the outcome. "I wasn't scared they'd equalise because we defended so well. I thought Xavi Simons was our best player too, he drove the team forward and was nice and aggressive."
Cody Gakpo echoed the sentiments of an improved team effort and a positive response to their previous shortcomings. "This was the answer we had to our last performance -- good game, good goals, we played good football," he said. "Of course we could do better but a good showing after the last game. A good step in that next direction. We felt we were in control even though they were a dangerous opponent."
Looking ahead, the Netherlands will face either Austria or Turkey in their quarter-final clash set to take place in Berlin on Saturday. The Dutch team, bolstered by their recent triumph and the standout performances of key players, will be keen to continue their progress and aim for another strong showing.