Squawka
·7 July 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsSquawka
·7 July 2024
The Netherlands come into Euro 2024 hoping to end a 36-year trophy drought and have kept their hopes alive by making the semi-final. What are their fixtures and potential route to the final?
Group D always looked set to be one of the most interesting groups of the tournament and it’s certainly playing out that way so far. For the Netherlands, it has yielded four points so far after they came from behind to beat Poland 1-2 thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Wout Weghorst and then earned a goalless draw against joint-favourites France in Leipzig. They were unable to claim the points needed against Austria to gain automatic qualification from Group D, however, instead finishing as one of the best third placed teams and setting up a Round of 16 tie with Romania.
Romania posed little threat to the Netherlands in the round of 16. Once Cody Gakpo had given Netherlands the lead in the first half, the flow of the match was set and Netherlands were able to control the game with ease. Donyell Malen added two further goals to make the scoreline an accurate reflection of the play.
For a long period it looked as though Netherlands might be seeing their Euro 2024 campaign end at the quarter-final stage but a second half come back saw them overcome a spirited Turkey side by a 2-1 scoreline.
A determined 2-1 win over Turkey sealed Netherlands place in the Euro 2024 semi-final but it certainly wasn’t an easy victory for Ronald Koeman’s side, who were behind for a large portion of the game. Their resolve was enough to find them the win though and set up a semi-final tie against England.
The Netherlands were able to continue their unbeaten run against Poland on Matchday One but it was far from plain sailing for Ronald Koeman’s men. Adam Buksa’s header gave the White Eagles a surprise lead only for Cody Gakpo to level the scores before half-time. Eventually, substitute Wout Weghorst was on hand to force home a winner for de Oranje and hand his side three vital points in their opening game of the competition.
Two of Europe’s powerhouses went head to head on Matchday Two in Group D but in the end this game fizzled out into the first goalless draw of the tournament despite the pre-match excitement. The Netherlands can count themselves unlucky not to have earned the win however as Xavi Simons’ second-half strike was ruled out for offside in contentious circumstances.
Netherlands were the favourites heading into the clash but looked to be complacent in falling to a 3-2 loss. Twice Ronald Koeman’s side were able to get back on level pegging but a third Austria goal proved to be all the difference.
Group D quickly became dubbed the “Group of Death” with France and Netherlands both drawn alongside Austria and Poland and it proved to be just that, with Austria unexpectedly topping Group D. Netherlands were left on very shaky ground following a draw with France and defeat by Austria but their opening victory against Poland proved pivotal with Ronald Koeman’s side qualifying as one of the best placed third teams.
This left them a round of 16 match against the Group E winners. Surprisingly, this turned out to be Romania, and the Netherlands were able to cruise to a comfortable 3-0 victory to set up their quarter-final match.