The Netherlands have secured their place in the Euro 2024 semifinals, where they will face England in Dortmund, Germany, this Wednesday. Coach Ronald Koeman attributes this remarkable achievement to his team's resilience, proving their doubters wrong throughout the continental tournament.
Despite facing a challenging journey, the Dutch team overcame significant hurdles, finishing third in Group D after a narrow 3-2 loss to Austria. Their path to the semifinals was far from easy, with two of their three group stage victories coming from defeating one-goal deficits in the second half.
One of the standout moments was their thrilling 2-1 victory over Türkiye in the quarterfinals on July 6, showcasing their determination and ability to perform under pressure.
\"I think, for the whole nation, it is something special,\" Koeman remarked after the victory. \"We are a small nation, and to be part of the semifinal with England, France, and Spain, we are really proud. We had to suffer tonight, but in the whole Euros, there is not an easy one.\"
\"It was really an emotional match, and we had a big heart. Sometimes we get criticism that we don't have the same heart as other nations, but the players showed immense heart tonight after going 1-0 down,\" Koeman added.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
