The Netherlands secured a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Romania in their round of 16 clash on Tuesday, propelling them to their first Euro quarterfinals appearance since 2008. The Dutch side showcased a blend of clinical finishing and defensive solidity to ensure their progress.
Dominant Performance Despite Early Pressure
Romania started brightly, controlling the tempo in the first quarter of an hour. However, it was the Netherlands who eventually took charge, maintaining two-thirds of possession throughout the match and recording almost five times more attempts on goal with a total of 24 shots.
Speaking after the match, Virgil van Dijk expressed his satisfaction with the team's defensive performance, stating, "Very proud, sure, and pleased as well. We were defensively sound and solid and did not give up much."
Offensive Prowess Comes to Fore
The Oranje's attacking threats were on full display, with Cody Gakpo continuing his impressive form by scoring his third goal of the tournament. Though Romania's early dominance could have been a cause for concern, head coach Ronald Koeman remained confident in his side's resilience.
"We had analysed 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.
Late Goals Seal the Victory
The match saw a dramatic conclusion with Donyell Malen scoring twice late into the game to secure a comfortable win for the Dutch. In the 83rd minute, Gakpo set up Malen for his first goal, and the second came in stoppage time to put the contest beyond doubt.
Reflecting on the overall performance, Gakpo mentioned, "This was the answer we had to our last performance -- good game, good goals, we played good football." He added, "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."
Star Performances
Xavi Simons earned particular praise for his role in driving the team forward. Koeman lauded the young midfielder's performance, saying, "I wasn't scared they'd equalise because we defended so well. I thought Xavi Simons was our best player too, he drove the team forward and was nice and aggressive."
Looking to the Quarterfinals
Having suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat to Austria in their previous outing, the Netherlands were under pressure to deliver a strong response. Van Dijk highlighted the team's self-critical attitude, noting, "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."
Next up for the Netherlands is a quarterfinal clash against Austria or Turkey, set to take place in Berlin on Saturday. With momentum firmly on their side, Koeman's men will be aiming to build on this impressive performance and continue their push for Euro glory.