Euro 2024: thanks to a great Gakpo, the Netherlands qualify for the quarter-finals by beating Romania

Gakpo a ouvert le score pour les Pays-Bas. MAXPPP – Bradley Collyer

The Netherlands won their ticket to the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, beating Romania (3-0), Tuesday July 2 in Munich, in a match where Cody Gakpo scored the first goal before delivering an assist at the end of the match.

The Dutch, led by their strikers Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen, who scored, will return to the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2008 and will face the winner of the last eighth-final between Austria and Turkey in the evening in Leipzig (9 p.m.).

The Romanians, who finished first in their group E ahead of Belgium, Slovakia and Ukraine, did not confirm the good impression left. They were quickly cooled by Gakpo's teammates, who set the tone of Dutch domination after the quarter of an hour of play.

In the 20th minute, the Liverpool striker, served on his left by Xavi Simons, won his duel in front of Andrei Ratiu on the left side, before beating Florin Nita. This is the third goal in the competition for Gakpo, top scorer of the Euro with Georgian Georges Mikautadze, German Jamal Musiala and Slovakian Ivan Schranz.

Malen crucifies Romania 

He could even have scored a double, and the break, on the hour mark but his goal was canceled for an offside position. So he turned into a decisive passer after a little number on his left side, following which he served Malen, author of the 2-0 (83rd).

This same Malen, who came on after the break, scored a double at the very end of the match (90+3) to seal a deserved success for the Oranje. Because before that, the meeting had only been a succession of offensive inspirations from the Dutch which multiplied the opportunities.

Also read: VIDEO. Euro 2024: before conceding a goal, the Romanian goalkeeper had to kick a shoe left on the field by a spectator

Stefan De Vrij's header went just wide (26th), Radu Dragusin made a saving tackle in front of Memphis (31st) while Xavi Simons missed his shot before the break.

In the second half, neither Virgil Van Dijk (58th), nor Gakpo alone (62nd), nor Memphis (68th) – author of a very good match – on a free kick, or even Joey Veerman (73rd) did not find the solution. But the Dutch are there and are back in the quarters for the first time in 16 years.