Romania 0-3 Netherlands
Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands are through to the last eight of the European Championships for the fist time since 2008 thanks to a comfortable win over Romania.
Cody Gakpo gave the Oranje an early lead and, in a game they totally dominated, the Netherlands were home and dry when Donyell Malen made it two. Euro 2024: Romania vs Netherlands was a fascinating game between two sides who are on the edge of the fancied teams, though the Oranje are now getting closer to joining the top table.
Edward Iordanescu’s Romania topped the incredible Group E in which all four teams had four points and at a bouncing Allianz Arena in Munich their fans made all the noise at the start of the game, but by the final whistle Bavaria had turned orange.
Highlights of the game
In a bright start to the game Xavi Simons took the first shot at goal, cutting inside and firing a decent ball in, but Florin Nita saved comfortably. And then Parma’s Dennis Man came close for Romania, beating the Netherland’s defence and curling a shot just wide.
Liverpool star Gakpo was in a group of players on two goals at the start of the game and, on 20 minutes he made it three to settle the Oranje’s early nerves. He took his chance well, beating Nita at his near post when he worked the right angle for a shot. 1-0 to the Netherlands and it should have been two when Stefan De Vrij snuck in at the back post to meet a corner but he guided his header the wrong side of the post under no pressure whatsoever.
Oranje wingback Denzel Dumfries was causing chaos down the flank as the Netherlands pushed for a second, and they should have scored again when Dumfries fed Simons, but the youngster took three touches before mis-hitting his shot. If Simons had hit it cleanly the Romania vs Netherlands betting odds would have closed the book; but the underdogs were still in the game at the half time break.
The Dutch knew just how precarious a 1-0 lead can be and they threw everything at it in the second half. Virgil Van Dijk hit the post with a towering header and then, how the Romania goal survived a frantic scramble we will never know. Gakpo was close to getting his second but was denied by a smart save from Nita, and then the Liverpool man through he had scored but his effort was ruled offside by VAR.
Memphis Depay had a good chance from a free kick but his clever low shot flew just wide and then he had a great opportunity from a header but Radu Dragusin just managed to clear the danger. Depay then had a shot blocked as the Oranje piled on the pressure and, with ten minutes to go the finish line was coming into view. And finally, on 83 minutes, Malen made the game safe when he poked the ball home after excellent work from man-of-the-match Gakpo. And there was still chance for substitute Malen to steal some of the limelight, slotting home his second and the Netherlands’ third, deep into injury time.
Key statistics
The Oranje have been uncertain in their performances so far; they were ahead for just 12 minutes of their matches in the group stage, the fewest of any of the qualifiers for the Round of 16. But, having scored on 20 minutes, Koeman’s men racked up another 25 minutes to make it to the break 1-0 ahead.
The Netherlands dominated the first half with 75 per cent possession and seven shots to four, and they saw the game through as their confidence grew in an impressive second half. They eventually had 22 shots to Romania’s five and the Oranje fully deserved their victory.
Memphis Depay’s second half free kick made it 39 in the tournament without any resulting in a goal.
Meanwhile, Gakpo’s opener made him the third player in Dutch history to score three or more goals at two separate competitions, alongside the legendary Johnny Rep and Denis Bergkamp.
What’s next?
The quarter finals kick off on Friday when Spain play the hosts Germany at the MHP Arena in Stuttgart before France take on Portugal, who squeezed past Slovenia on penalties on Monday night.
On Saturday England meet Switzerland, a game the UK contingent of SBOTOP writers are rather nervous about, while the Netherlands will play the winners of Austria vs Turkey, the late kick-off on Tuesday night. Those two teams will have been watching the Romania vs Netherlands updates with interest, and now it’s their turn to go for the last eight; and whoever wins will face an Oranje on the up.
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