The Netherlands secured a convincing victory over Romania to reach the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, their first appearance in the tournament’s final eight stages in 16 years.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo put the Dutch ahead midway through the first half with a well-placed shot after cutting inside a defender. Despite creating further opportunities, the Netherlands couldn’t capitalise and went into halftime with a narrow lead.
Substitute Donyell Malen emerged as a second-half hero, scoring twice in the final 10 minutes. His first goal came from a well-timed run onto a Gakpo pass, while his second capitalized on Romania’s attacking push, leaving him free to slot the ball home.
While Romania created early pressure with enthusiastic play and vocal support from their fans, the Netherlands weathered the storm and gradually asserted dominance. Although Romania continued to fight in the second half, the Dutch defence held firm.
With a dominant display against Romania, the Netherlands can now look forward to a quarter-final clash against either Turkey or a rematch with their group-stage opponents, Austria.
