The Netherlands secured their spot in Euro 2024 semifinals with a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over Türkiye on Saturday.
Trailing by a goal in the first half, the Dutch team showed resilience and tactical prowess to overturn the deficit. An own goal from Mert Muldur in the 76th minute, just six minutes after Stefan De Vrij canceled out Samet Akaydin's first-half header for Türkiye, was the decisive moment that sent the Netherlands through from the last game of the quarterfinals.
\"It was really a battle today,\" De Vrij said. \"The Turkish team has a big heart, a lot of quality. In the end, we did well and we deserved the win.\"
The Netherlands increased their pressure after bringing on Wout Weghorst at the start of the second half. His presence upfront allowed the Dutch to maintain possession and create scoring opportunities, ultimately leading to two crucial goals and a hard-fought victory.
The upcoming semifinals will see the Netherlands face England in Dortmund on Wednesday, while Spain will take on France in the first semifinal on Tuesday.
Türkiye played without defender Merih Demiral, who was suspended by UEFA for two games due to a nationalistic hand gesture after scoring in their previous match.
The match was intense from the start, with the Dutch pushing early but Türkiye's defense, including the efforts of Cody Gapko, Xavi Simons, and Memphis Depay, holding strong. Akaydin's goal in the 35th minute electrified the stadium, but the Netherlands' persistence paid off in the second half.
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman made strategic substitutions at halftime, bringing on Weghorst to bolster the attack. This shift proved effective as the Netherlands scored two key goals, including De Vrij's header from Depay's cross and an own goal by Muldur, securing their place in the semifinals.
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Netherlands come back to beat Türkiye to reach Euro 2024 semifinals
cgtn.com