NETHERLANDS have booked their spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a 3-0 win over Romania.
Cody Gakpo opened the scoring with a stunning near-post finish on 20 minutes.
Donyell Malen bagged a brace in the second half to secure the Netherlands’ spot in the quarter-finals.
Holland will take on Austria or Turkey in the last-8 on Saturday, July 6.
- Match result: Romania 0-3 Netherlands
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Orange army celebrate win
They are right up there for any potential award for the best fans in Euro 2024 and the dream of winning the tournament is still alive.
The streets of Munich will be a sea of orange as the Netherlands fans party long into the night.
It was a perfect night this evening, winning the game and scoring three goals in the process.
Credit: AFP Gakpo stars for Netherlands in Munich
Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo was rightly awarded the ‘man of the match’ award at the Allianz Arena.
He scored the first goal and assisted the second as the Dutch marched on to the quarter-finals.
All focus now will be on tonight’s game between Turkey and Austria to see who they meet in the next round.
Credit: Getty Romania find Dutch too hot to handle
Just to get to their first knockoout game in a major tournament for 24 years, Romania did their country proud.
Even in losing this game, they did not look out of their depth and contributed to a competitive game.
Netherlands rubbed salt in the wound with two late goals but on their showing in Euro 2024, Romanian football seems in good hands with Edward Iordanescu.
Credit: AFP Credit: EPA
Dutch safely through to quarters
Netherlands showed their quality against a dangerous Romania side in Munich this evening.
After going a goal ahead, they struggled to give themselves the breathing space of a second goal until the closing stages of the game.
Koeman’s side created plenty of chances in the game and were worthy winners and will wait to see whether it is Turkey or Austria that they face in the next round.
Credit: Reuters Credit: AFP Rounded performance from Dutch
Whoever they play in the quarter-finals, Netherlands will ask questions of many teams all over the pitch.
One player who caused Romania real problems was Denzel Dumfries.
His attacking play down the right gave his opposite number a nightmare for the majority of the game.
FT: Romania 0-3 Netherlands
The scoreline flatters the Dutch a little as this was a more competitive game than it suggests.
That said, Netherlands fully deserved their victory and put Romania to the sword in the final stages of the game.
Many people will be taking note of Ronald Koeman’s side now.
FT: Romania 0-3 Netherlands
The referee brings the game to a close.
A dominant display from Netherlands at the Allianz Arena.
Romania have done themselves proud in this tournament.
Romania 0-3 Netherlands
90+3. As a Romania attack breaks down, Malen breaks and takes the ball on himself.
He cuts inside onto his right foot and slots the ball past the Romanian keeper.
It adds an air of comfort to the scoreline in Munich.
Goal – Donyell Malen (Netherlands)
Romania 0-2 Netherlands
90+2. A hopeful ball is hoisted upfield but Verbruggen does well to come and collect it.
van Dijk is then penalised for a foul on Alibec on the halfway line.
Depay is replaced by Blind for the Netherlands.
Romania 0-2 Netherlands
90. van de Ven sprints down the left flank putting in a dangerous ball into the near post.
Weghorst slides in but cannot find the contact needed to convert.
We are going to have four additional minutes added.
Romania 0-2 Netherlands
88. Credit where it is due to Romania, they have been a credit to this tournament and this game.
It all seemed to be one step too far as they met a Dutch side today who brought their game.
We have seen some dramatic late goals in Euro 2024 but it seems a big ask needing two goals in the time remaining.
Credit: PA Romania 0-2 Netherlands
86. You cannot deny that the Dutch deserve this win.
They will be heading through to the quarter-finals unless something very out of the ordinary happens now.
Netherlands continue to pile the pressure on the Romanians.
Romania 0-2 Netherlands
84. That was brilliant play from Gakpo on the byline to keep the ball in play.
As the keeper tries to close him down, he squared it to Malen to poke home into a near empty net.
That has ended any Romanian hopes of getting that equaliser in this game.
Gakpo is then replaced by Weghorst.
Goal – Donyell Malen (Netherlands)
Romania 0-1 Netherlands
82. Malen goes on a mazy run before laying the ball off to Gakpo in the Romanian penalty-area.
Once again the pass is slightly behind the Liverpool man.
He manages to get a shot off at goal but it is well blocked and deflects high over the bar.
Romania manage to break but the referee awards a free kick against Alibec for a foul on Dumfries.
The replay shows there was no contact whatsoever and the defender was just acting and certainly sold the official one there.
Romania 0-1 Netherlands
80. Simons almost gets lucky as a wild clearance from the Romanian strikes him and narrowly misses the far post.
That certainly would not have been a ‘goal of the tournament’ contender.
Romania will be hoping they can get one more chance in this game.
Credit: AFP Romania 0-1 Netherlands
78. Dumfries is shown a yellow card for timewasting.
As the game goes on, the more desperate Romania become.
They have created very little in terms of clear-cut chances in this second half.
Romania 0-1 Netherlands
76. Netherlands continue to press forward in search of that goal.
Gakpo looks to cross into the box but it is headed clear.
The Dutch recycle it and Dumfries plays a good ball into the box but Depay cannot head it goalwards.
Romania 0-1 Netherlands
74. While this game stays at one-nil, Romania are very much in it.
They will gain some confidence from that in the closing stages of this game.
Netherlands have had plenty of chances to put this game to bed.
Romania 0-1 Netherlands
72. Hagi, Dragus and Maris are replaced by Mihaila, Alibec and Cicaldau.
Gakpo lays the ball off to Simons who tries to be over elaborate again and is dispossessed.
Netherlands win it back and Gakpo backheels it to Veerman but as he looks to pass it into the far corner, it narrowly goes the wrong side of the post.
Romania 0-1 Netherlands
70. Ronald Koeman decides it is time for a change.
Schouten comes off for Veerman while van de Ven replaces Ake.
We are heading into the last twenty minutes of the game now and Romania look set to make some changes also.
Credit: Getty Romania 0-1 Netherlands
68. The Dutch are playing some great passing football.
If anything, the only criticism you could aim at Koeman’s side is that in this position they do not kill games off.
Simons goes down just outside the box and the referee awards a free kick.
Marius Marin is shown a yellow card for the challenge.
Depay strikes the free kick under the wall and it narrowly misses the near post with the keeper scrambling.
Romania 0-1 Netherlands
66. Gakpo’s goal is disallowed, as the replay showed, he had just strayed offside before poking the ball home.
Not sure why that decision took so long, even the registered blind could have seen that one.
There is a huge cheer from the Romanian fans as the goal is chalked off.
VAR review – Offside
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
