MUNICH, Germany – The Netherlands cruised into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a convincing 3-0 win over Romania in Munich on Tuesday.
The Dutch, led by strikers Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen, who scored, will return to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2008 and will face the winner of the last 16 tie between Austria and Turkey in the evening in Leipzig.
The Romanians, who had finished first in their group E ahead of Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine, did not confirm the good impression left. They were quickly cooled by Gakpo’s teammates, who set the tone for the Dutch domination after the quarter of an hour of play.
In the 20th minute, the Liverpool striker, served on his left by Xavi Simons, won his duel in front of Andrei Ratiu on the left side, before beating Florin Nita.
It is the third goal in the competition for Gakpo, who is the top scorer at the Euro along with Georgian Georges Mikautadze, German Jamal Musiala and Slovakian Ivan Schranz.
He could even have scored a double and the break after an hour of play, but his goal was ruled out for offside.
Then he turned into a decisive passer after a little number on his left side, after which he served Malen, author of the 2-0 (83rd). This same Malen, who came on after the break, offered himself a double at the very end of the match (90+3) to seal a deserved victory for the Oranje.
Because before that, the match had been nothing more than a succession of offensive inspirations from the Dutch who multiplied the opportunities.
Stefan De Vrij’s header went narrowly wide (26th), Radu Dragusin made a saving tackle in front of Memphis (31st) while Xavi Simons missed his shot before the break.
In the second half, neither Virgil Van Dijk (58th), nor Gakpo alone (62nd), nor Memphis (68th), author of a very good match, on a free kick, nor Joey Veerman (73rd) had found the solution.
But the Dutch are there and are back in the quarter-finals for the first time in 16 years.
