The Netherlands secured an emphatic 3-0 victory over Romania in their round of 16 clash on Tuesday, marking their first advance to the Euro quarterfinals since 2008. The triumph was a much-needed response following a disappointing 3-2 loss to Austria in their previous match.
Gakpo Leads from the Front
Cody Gakpo continued his stellar form by netting his third goal of the tournament, setting the stage for the Dutch dominance. Reflecting on the match, Gakpo expressed satisfaction, "This was the answer we had to our last performance -- good game, good goals, we played good football." The forward also highlighted the team’s control over the game despite Romania's potential threat, "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."
Malen Seals the Deal
While Romania controlled the tempo in the first quarter of an hour, the Dutch team found its rhythm, maintaining two-thirds of possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities. Despite 24 shots on goal, it wasn’t until the final minutes that the Netherlands secured their win, thanks to two late goals from Donyell Malen.
In the 83rd minute, Gakpo set up Malen for his first goal, which seemed to deflate the Romanian side. Malen's second goal came in stoppage time, leaving no room for Romania to recover.
Defensive Solidity
Virgil van Dijk almost added his name to the scoresheet with a header that struck the post. However, his primary contribution was marshaling a defense that remained resolute throughout. Van Dijk lauded the team's defensive performance, "Very proud, sure, and pleased as well. We were defensively sound and solid and did not give up much."
The Liverpool defender also emphasized the team’s self-awareness and determination following their previous defeat. "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."
Koeman's Tactical Mastery
Coach Ronald Koeman’s astute tactical preparation proved instrumental in the Netherlands’ victory. “We had analyzed 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,” Koeman noted.
Koeman praised his team for rising to the occasion after their lackluster performance against Austria. "I thought there were a lot of good things we did. The team realized 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."
Regarding the defensive stability, Koeman added, "I wasn't scared they'd equalize because we defended so well. I thought Xavi Simons was our best player too, he drove the team forward and was nice and aggressive."
Quarterfinals on the Horizon
With this commanding performance, the Netherlands now set their sights on the quarterfinals, where they will face either Austria or Turkey in Berlin on Saturday. The Dutch will be eager to maintain their momentum and continue their journey in the European Championship.