The Netherlands secured a commanding 3-0 win against Romania in the Euro 2024 round of 16 on Tuesday. Cody Gakpo’s goal and Donyell Malen’s late double secured the Dutch team’s place in the quarterfinals.
Early Control and Gakpo’s Impact
After a disappointing defensive display in their previous 3-2 loss to Austria, the Netherlands delivered a composed and controlled performance. Romania initially dominated possession in the first 15 minutes, but the Dutch gradually gained control.
Cody Gakpo opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a low shot that beat Romanian goalkeeper Florin Nita at the near post. This set the stage for a dominant performance by the Netherlands.
Malen’s Late Goals Seal the Deal
Donyell Malen added two late goals to ensure the victory. In the 83rd minute, Gakpo assisted Malen’s first goal by keeping the ball in play on the touchline and delivering a perfect cross for an easy finish. Malen then scored his second in stoppage time, dribbling through midfield and into the penalty area before slotting the ball past Nita.
Player and Manager Reactions
“This was the response we needed after our last performance — good game, good goals, we played well,” Gakpo said. “We could always do better, but this was a good step in the right direction. We felt in control even though Romania is a dangerous opponent.”
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman praised the team’s performance, highlighting their improvement. “We did a lot of good things today. The team recognized the need to improve after the last game, and they responded well. We played solidly throughout, except for the initial pressure in the first 10 minutes.”
Dominant Performance
The Netherlands controlled two-thirds of the possession and created nearly five times more chances than Romania, with 24 attempts on goal. Virgil van Dijk hit the post with a header, and Gakpo had a second goal ruled out for offside, demonstrating their attacking superiority.
“Very proud and pleased with our performance. We were defensively solid and didn’t give up much,” Van Dijk commented. “We could have scored more. After a challenging week, we needed to show our quality, and we did. We are self-critical and knew we had to improve. Everyone took responsibility today and showed their commitment.”
The Netherlands now prepare for their quarterfinal match against Austria or Turkey in Berlin on Saturday, looking to maintain their impressive form.
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