By Sergio Silva
02 Jul 2024, 17:00 PM EDT
The Netherlands national team had no problems in winning their round of 16 match in the Euro Cup Germany 2024 and took a resounding victory over Romania (0-3) this Tuesday in a result that assured them their presence in the quarter-finals of the championship.
The Dutch team came into this match needing to clean up its image after a difficult group stage in which it only managed a victory against Poland (1-2) and then a goalless draw against France and a tough defeat against the surprising Austria (2-3).
But on Tuesday, the Netherlands national team did not fail at the most important moment. Ronald Koeman’s team gave a demonstration of their striking power that puts them back among the candidates to fight for the title on Sunday, July 14 in Berlin.
“It was a good game for us. We tried to dominate and we did very well. We knew they were a tough opponent. But we were very prepared. We showed it. The fans were also incredible. We needed to score goals and we did that too. Good performance overall.”Gakpo commented.
But the Dutch victory was not fully sealed until the final minutes when Donyell Malen appeared to score a brace that finally put the Netherlands among the best eight teams in this championship.
First, the Borussia Dortmund player finished off a great pass from Cody Gakpo after a good move on the left in which he reached the end line and put the ball in front of the goal for Malen to finish (m.83). Then, the same player completed a counterattack with a great shot that sealed the 0-3 (m.93).
Back in the quarter-finals 16 years later
The Netherlands’ victory on Tuesday allowed them to break a 16-year losing streak in which they have not reached the quarter-finals of the European Championship, something they had last achieved in Austria and Switzerland in 2008.
On that occasion, the Dutch team, which included figures such as Edwin Van der Sar, Wesley Sneijder, Dirk Kuyt, Robin Van Persie and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, among other stars, lost to the Russian national team by 3-1 in a match played on June 21 of that year.
After that defeat, the Netherlands were not lucky enough to overcome the round of 16 barrier in the 2012 editions of Poland and Ukraine, being eliminated in the group stage, France 2016 did not even manage to qualify and finally in 2021, which was played in multiple venues, they fell in the round of 16.
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