Berlin, Jul 7
In a thrilling Euro 2024 quarterfinal clash on Sunday, the Netherlands secured their place in the semifinals with a dramatic second-half comeback against a spirited Turkey side, marking their first European Championship semifinal berth in two decades. Turkey, led by Vincenzo Montella, seemed set for a final-four showdown with England when Samet Akaydin’s powerful header found the back of the net, giving them a crucial lead. However, the Dutch responded with determination. A towering Stefan de Vrij header and a forced own goal by Mert Muldur, off a Cody Gakpo cross, turned the tide in favor of the Oranje.The match started with high intensity as the Dutch immediately showed their intent. Memphis Depay nearly opened the scoring within the first minute, wriggling free to unleash a shot from inside the box that narrowly missed the target. Turkey’s defensive 5-4-1 formation was designed to stifle the Dutch attack, but gaps in their midfield trio, focused more on offense, allowed the Netherlands to exploit spaces. This setup resulted in an engaging duel between Turkey’s tireless Baris Alper Yilmaz and the imposing Virgil van Dijk.A critical moment unfolded in the 34th minute when Denzel Dumfries’ decision to let the ball go out for a goal kick resulted in a corner for Turkey. Arda Guler delivered an exquisite cross, which Akaydin met with a powerful header that went in off the crossbar, putting Turkey ahead.Buoyed by their lead and the vocal support of their fans, Turkey defended resolutely. Ronald Koeman’s strategic half-time introduction of Wout Weghorst aimed to ignite a Dutch revival. Despite early second-half pressure from the Netherlands, it was Turkey’s Guler who nearly extended their lead with a stunning free-kick that struck the post.Weghorst played a crucial defensive role, executing a perfect tackle to prevent a Kenan Yildiz rebound from finding the net. As Turkey continued to press forward, the Dutch defense appeared to be under immense pressure. However, the Netherlands’ resilience shone through. Stefan de Vrij’s towering header leveled the score, and the relentless Dutch pressure culminated in Cody Gakpo’s cross being deflected into the net by Mert Muldur, sealing a memorable 2-1 victory for the Oranje.
With this win, the Netherlands look forward to their first European Championship semifinal in 20 years, carrying the hopes of reclaiming past glories and continuing their impressive Euro 2024 campaign.
