The Netherlands complete a six-minute comeback against the resilient Turkiye
The Netherland’s have secured their place in the semi-finals after overcoming the fearless Turks, in what most people would describe as the most entertaining quarter-final tie.
Vincenzo Montella’s side took the lead in the 35 minute through a well taken headed strike by Fenerbahçe centre half Samet Akaydin, but the Het Netherlands Elfat (The Dutch Eleven) managed to get back on level terms in the 70th minute through veteran Stefan De Vrij and six minutes later, The Netherlands turned the tie on its head thanks to Cody Gakpo’s persistence leading to Mert Muldur prodding the ball into the back of his own net.
With the Dutch being 1-0 down at half time, in the second half their persistent approach paid dividends as they managed to get back in the driving seat ultimately leading to the Turks crumbling under pressure.
As Ronald Koeman’s side came out victorious, they will now face the Three Lions on Wednesday 10th of July for a place in the Euro 2024 final.
Story of the Match
Koeman opted to keep his starting XI the same following a 3-0 massacre of Romania.
Lining up their savvy 4231, the Dutch hoped to impress the same way that they did in the previous round.
At the centre of the defence was Koeman’s go-to defensive pairing of Virgil Van Dijk and goalscorer Stefan de Vrij with the dynamic duo of Jerdy Schouten and Tijjani Reijnders in the pivot.
Meanwhile at the spear head of the team was the attacking foursome of ex-Tottenham winger Steven Bergwijn on the right side, PSG starlet Xavi Simons, Liverpool’s Gakpo and free agent Memphis Depay up top.
On the other hand, Montella opted to change his formation from the so far successful 443 formation to a 451 with the aim of nullifying the electric Dutch attack.
With the hero of the last round Merih Demiral picking up a suspension due to his celebration after scoring a brace against Ralf Rangnick’s Austria, in came Kaan Ahyan meanwhile Orkun Kokcu made way for today’s goalscorer, Samet Akaydin.
This means the midfield 4 consisted of Real Madrid wonderkid Arda Guler, Champions League finalist Salih Ozcan, the forever impressive Hakan Calhanoglu and Juventus youngster Kenan Yildiz leaving the tenacious Baris Alper Yilmaz up top as a solo striker.
Straight from the off, Oranje showed their attacking intentions with Depay and Cody Gakpo linking up allowing Depay to find some space to drive into before firing the ball high over the bar.
Turkiye responded as fullback Kadioglu set off on a mazy run before finding the feet of Borussia Dortmund’s Ozcan who fires from 25 yards, seeing his shot consistently rise over the Dutch goal.
From this chance, the Turks looked like the team in control and this was demonstrated in the 35th minute when Turkiye open the scoring. The initial corner was swung in but headed away to safety, before Guler latches onto the ball, swings in a beauty of a ball into the six yard box, meeting the head of Samet Akaydin.
With a place in the semi-final at the limber, both teams showed started the slow down with both teams chances dwindling and that’s when Clement Turpin brought proceedings to a halt at the Olympiastadion Berlin.
The Dutch returned to the pitch with one change taking place at the interval. Ajax’s Bergwijn made way for Big Dutch Wout Weghorst meanwhile Montella chose to stay with the same side for the start of the second half.
The half started with the Dutch creating a few half-chances until Turkiye go on the hunt for their second. A freekick is awarded to the Turks with Guler and Calhanoglu limbering over the ball. The young midfielder steps up to take the free kick and drills it low, pass the wall and past a beaten Bart Verbruggen before clipping the post and going out for a goal kick.
It was the Dutch’s time to attack, with Gakpo and Simon linking up together before finding an oncoming Depay who had his strike blocked Ayhan.
It took until the 70 minute for the Dutch to get themselves level. Depay and Schouten play a quick one-two from a short corner, resulting in Depay swinging in a brilliant ball which is met by an unmarked De Vrij, who accurately nodded the ball into the Turkish net.
It wasn’t long until the Dutch added another to the scoring. This time its an own goal that does it from them. Dutch fullback Denzel Dumfries picks up the ball on the right and flashes a cross across the box to the meet an onrushing Gakpo at the back post seeing his effort steered into the back of the net by Muldur.
With the Turks seeing their golden ticket to the semi-finals go by they knew they had to get a goal and they knew it had to be soon. Once again Guler shows his talent by beating his man before crossing the ball to substitute Cenk Tosun who sees his header go agonisingly wide.
The board goes up signaling six minutes on the board. Its now or never for the Turks. Kadioglu swings an accurate cross from the edge of the box which finds substitute Semih Kilicsoy’s head but somehow Verbruggen gets down to it showcasing his reflexes.
It got to the 96 minute and the Turks were not happy with the referee and therefore, unused substitute Bertug Yildirim is shown a red card.
Player of the Match- Cody Gakpo
The Liverpool man was a constant problem for the Turkish defence throughout the entirety of the game. The vast majority of the chances Koeman’s side produced came from Gakpo and his surging runs at the defence had them on red alert.
Although not getting his goal, it was Gakpo who stepped up when his country needed him, surging onto a brilliant ball by Dumfries which wouldn’t have found its way into the back of the net if it wasn’t for his willingness to get to the ball first.
With three goals and one assist for Oranje after coming off a tough season for the Reds, Cody Gakpo looks like a man on a mission to impress the new manager Arne Slot.
