In a one-sided match, the Dutch defeated outsiders Romania. The victory could have been bigger, but in the end a Dortmund player made the decision.
In the European Championship round of 16, the Netherlands deservedly won 3-0 (1-0) against Romania on Tuesday evening (July 2, 2024). After Cody Gakpo had given the “Elftal” an early lead with a solo effort (20th minute), the Dutch missed numerous good chances.
It was only in the final phase that Dortmund substitute Donyell Malen scored the decisive goal (83′), assisted by Gakpo, who was named UEFA’s player of the match. In injury time, Malen added his second goal (90’+3′) to make the final score 3-0.
Round of 16 Arrow right Live ticker for reading: Romania against the Netherlands Arrow right
Match winner Gakpo happy about “reaction” after defeat
With the win, the Dutch have redeemed themselves for the defeat against Austria on the last day of the group match. “We had to show a reaction and today was a step in the right direction,” said Gakpo. Denzel Dumfries said he was “very proud of the team’s performance.” The team was not confused by the plethora of chances they had created in the meantime. “We have the quality to decide the game late on,” said Dumfries.
Brave Romanians surprise Dutch
The fans and perhaps also the Dutch team were a little surprised in the early stages. Outsider Romania initially attacked the favorites bravely and also had the first chance of this game in the Munich stadium.
This is, as is well known, the former stomping ground of legendary striker Arjen Robben. He was briefly thought of when Romanian winger Dennis Man tried to copy Robben’s most famous trick: from the right wing, he moved parallel to the edge of the penalty area into the middle and then shot with his left foot into the far corner. As was the case with Robben, the defense was unable to defend. But the ball flew just over the goal (14′).
Gakpo scores with first chance for Oranje
The “Elftal” still has good wingers in its squad today. Especially Gakpo. The Liverpool FC striker is the best Dutch goalscorer in the tournament so far. Shortly afterwards, he went past his opponent with a similar movement – from the left edge of the penalty area into the middle. However, his shot flew into the near corner, which probably surprised the Romanian goalkeeper Florin Niţă. He arrived too late and the ball hit the net for Gakpo’s third goal of the tournament (20′).
Ronald Koeman’s team then developed the dominance that had been expected before the match. Stefan de Vrij headed the ball just wide of the goal after one of ten (!) Dutch corners in the first half (26′). Then the Romanian defender Radu Drăgușin cleared a low cross from Dumfries with a risky sliding tackle in his own six-yard box (31′).
Dutch people show first signs of arrogance
Dumfries was repeatedly involved in the Elftal’s attacks on the right side. The favorites’ game became more confident and fluid by the minute. Memphis Depay and Xavi Simons tried some technical tricks early on and were bordering on arrogance.
Simons wasted a good chance to score a second goal with his playfulness: from the penalty spot, he made one hook after another before finally muttering the ball past the goal (44′). After the break, the wasted chances continued: substitute Malen did not properly connect with a cross from Dumfries and the ball bounced to Depay, who also did not get a good hold of it (54′).
Many opportunities for higher leadership
After just over an hour, the Dutch team’s dominance was overwhelming: they won almost two thirds of the duels, had 64 percent possession and 16:5 shots on goal. However, the lead remained narrow at first, as captain Virgil van Dijk’s header from a corner hit the post (58th minute) and Gakpo’s shot after a solo run across half the field was stopped by goalkeeper Niţă (62nd minute).
Then Gakpo scored after a cross, but was offside when Malen extended the game (63′). A clever free kick from Depay, under the wall, narrowly missed the Romanian goal (68′). When substitute Micky van de Ven pushed the ball past the far post from close range after a wonderful backheel trick from Gakpo (73′), the question arose as to whether the squandered chances could still take their toll.
Painting decides the one-sided game
At this point, Romania was already too tired to put up any serious defence. Instead, one attack after another rolled towards Niţă’s goal. Malen finally scored the decisive second goal, with the outstanding Gakpo once again paving the way. He dribbled on the left side of the penalty area on the byline and passed the ball back to Malen in front of the Romanian goalkeeper. All he had to do was push the ball into the empty net (83′).
Malen scored again in injury time. He was sent in by Simons after a Romanian corner. With a quick hook, he outplayed the Romanian defenders who were running alongside him and confidently finished in the near corner (90.+3) to make the final score 3-0.
Dutch play in Berlin on Saturday
The Netherlands showed one of their strongest performances of the tournament at the right time. Romania was eliminated in the round of 16, the “Elftal” is in the quarterfinals and will face the winner of the match between Austria and Turkey on Saturday (July 6, 2024, 9 p.m.) in Berlin.
