Cody Gakpo scored one and made one as the Netherlands eased into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a win over Romania in Munich that was far more convincing than the scoreline suggests.
Gakpo finished a lovely, flowing move after 20 minutes to join Georges Mikautadze, Jamal Musiala and Ivan Schranz as the leading contenders for the Golden Boot with three goals in the tournament.
The Liverpool man then supplied Donyell Malen for the Netherlands’ second late on, and the Borussia Dortmund forward grabbed a third in injury-time, as they set up a clash with Austria or Turkey on Saturday.
𝐐𝐔𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑-𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐒! 🇳🇱#NothingLikeOranje #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/E3KB9t9FKE
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) July 2, 2024
It ended in a comfortable win but the scoreline, if not the balance of play, was tight for the bulk of the game as the Dutch were repeatedly denied a second goal through poor finishing and some heroic Romania defending.
It was the only criticism you could level at the Oranje after a strong performance that will do much to restore their self-belief after they could only manage a third-placed finish in Group D.
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Romania started well but faded
Romania, roared by a large support clad in yellow, started brightly, showing plenty of confidence as they pressed the Dutch back into their own half.
Bart Verbruggen was not called into any serious action, though, with the closest Romania coming to a goal being a Dennis Man shot that whistled inches over the goalkeeper’s bar.
The Netherlands had offered little going forward when they finally strung some passes together in a nice move that culminated in them taking the lead.
Jerdy Schouten played through the lines to Xavi Simons who, in turn, picked out Gakpo hugging the left touchline. The Liverpool forward cut inside and fired a powerful shot that beat Florin Nita at his near post.
What a goal by Cody Gakpo!!! 😲#BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/bqLnTHvvvI
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 2, 2024
Ronald Koeman’s men dominated the remainder of the half but were unable to add to their advantage.
Stefan De Vrij ought to have made it 2-0 five minutes later but headed Memphis Depay’s left-wing corner wide having found space at the far post.
Romania were struggling to cope with the marauding Denzel Dumfries and the recalled Steven Bergwijn down their left with first-choice full-back Nicusor Bancu suspended and his replacement Vasile Mogos lasting 38 minutes before having to depart following a clash of heads.
The disruption to the Romania defence was evident and the Netherlands almost capitalised two minutes before the break. Substitute Bogdan Racovitan dallied too long, Dumfries nipped in and pulled the ball back for Simons but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder took too long and his delayed shot drifted harmlessly wide.
One-way traffic in the second half
Romania started the second period in positive fashion but they were still susceptible to the counter attack and the Dutch almost capitalised.
Dumfries escaped down the right for the umpteenth time and although his cross was too powerful for substitute Malen – on in place of Bergwijn at half-time – the ball fell kindly at the feet of Depay six yards out. He seemed certain to score but Andrei Ratiu got across quickly to make a brilliant, goal-saving challenge.
The Netherlands could not find that killer second goal with Virgil van Dijk the next to come close with a downward header after 58 minutes that clipped the outside of the post and went wide.
Nita saved well to deny Gakpo after a surging run from inside his own half with Romania continuing to ride their luck, Gakpo seeing a goal ruled out for a narrow offside shortly after the hour mark and Depay firing a free-kick inches wide.
Joey Veerman, dragged off after 35 minutes and publicly criticised by Koeman after the defeat to Austria, almost redeemed himself with a low shot that crept wide before the pressure finally told with seven minutes to go.
Gakpo got the better of Radu Dragusin on the byline and squared for Malen, who tapped into the empty net.
Donyell Malen doubles their lead!
The Netherlands are heading into the quarter-finals 🔜 #BBCEuros #Euro2024 #ROUNED pic.twitter.com/4IjGvPx8Gn
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 2, 2024
Malen then ran clear on the counter to add a third as Romania’s resistance crumbled.
