The Netherlands secured their spot in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a decisive 3-0 victory over Romania at the Allianz Arena. The match saw the Dutch overcoming early pressure from a spirited Romanian side, who were backed by a vibrant contingent of supporters.
Cody Gakpo, the Liverpool forward, opened the scoring for the Netherlands midway through the first half with a brilliant finish, cutting inside and driving the ball into the bottom corner. Despite numerous missed opportunities, the Dutch maintained their lead and ensured there were no late surprises with two goals from substitute Donyell Malen in the final minutes.
Romania started the game strongly, pressing the Dutch into early mistakes and creating a scare when Dennis Man shot just over the bar. However, Gakpo’s goal shifted the momentum, and the Netherlands could have increased their lead before halftime if not for a missed shot by Xavi Simons.
In the second half, Romania continued to fight but found themselves on the back foot as the Dutch created better chances. Memphis Depay missed a close-range effort, Virgil van Dijk hit the post with a header, and another Gakpo shot was pushed behind. Malen’s introduction at halftime proved decisive, as he scored twice in the final ten minutes to seal the victory.
The win was a significant improvement for Ronald Koeman’s side, who had 23 attempts on goal compared to Romania’s five. The Dutch had 66% possession and completed 502 passes with an 87% accuracy rate.
Malen’s first goal came from a Gakpo assist, as the Liverpool man battled to keep the ball in play and set up Malen for a tap-in in the 83rd minute. The final goal was a swift counter-attack, with Simons sending Malen through to cut back and smash the ball into the bottom-right corner, making him the fourth player ever to score twice from the bench in a European Championship game.
The Netherlands will now prepare to face either Turkey or Austria in the quarter-finals. Despite missing several chances, their dominant performance against Romania, reflected in their game and highlighted the intensity and skill that many believe they should have displayed from the start of the tournament.
Melissa Enoch
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