Romania v Netherlands LIVE: Result and final score as Donyell Malen seals Euro 2024 quarter-final place
Netherlands were too good as they saw off Romania in a 3-0 win
A much-improved Netherlands saw off Romania to book their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
Cody Gakpo fired in a powerful opening goal and Donyell Malen’s second-half double clinched the 3-0 victory.
The Dutch will now play either Austria or Turkey in the quarter-finals in Berlin on Saturday. Austria produced a brilliant performance to beat Netherlands 3-2 in the group stage.
Follow the reaction from the Allianz Arena in the blog below.
Romania v Netherlands
Romania have won just one of their 14 matches against the Netherlands in all competitions (D3 L10), losing their last four in a row since a 1-0 win in European Championship qualifying in October 2007.
The Tricolorii have only scored three goals in those 14 encounters, while conceding 29.
Romania v Netherlands
This will be only the second ever major tournament (World Cup/Euros) meeting between Romania and the Netherlands, with the Oranje winning 2-0 in the group stage of Euro 2008.
Team news - Romania
Dennis Man starts on the wing for Romania as Florinel Coman drops out. Vasile Mogos comes in to the back four for the suspended Nicusor Bancu.
Romania XI: Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Mogos; M Marin; Hagi, R Marin, Stanciu, Man; Dragus.
Pre-match thoughts from Ronald Koeman
Netherlands coach, Ronald Koeman, gave his thoughts about the defeat to Austria in the group stages and what he is expecting from tonight’s match versus Romania.
He said: “It was a disappointment [losing to Austria], especially the first half. The way we played was not aggressive enough. So we focused on that and the players showed a reaction during training. The next step is to show it during tomorrow’s match.
“Maybe [Netherlands will control possession]. But that depends on how good we are on the ball and if we can push Romania back. They play in a very compact way.
“Normally we would have more of the ball than them, but that can also be dangerous because they will be waiting for us to lose possession – and then they can hurt us. So we have to be good in all aspects of our play.
“It doesn’t matter [if we are favourites or not]. It’s all talk outside the white lines. We take Romania very seriously and we know we have to be better than the last game. It always starts with yourself.”
Team news - Netherlands
Ronald Koeman brings Denzel Dumfries, Xavi Simons and Steven Bergwijn into his starting line-up.
Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Reijnders, Schouten; Bergwijn, Gakpo, Simons; Depay.
Cristiano Ronaldo is out of control and exposes Roberto Martinez’s familiar mistake
Roberto Martinez won an army of admirers for how he reintegrated Cristiano Ronaldo into his team following a woeful World Cup in Qatar.
But like many before him, Martinez has taken his eye off the ball and the megalomaniacal ego is now out of control, causing more harm than good to Portugal’s chances of a second European Championship crown.
Monday night in Frankfurt is when it hit home for Martinez. Bringing Ronaldo back in from the cold having been frozen out by predecessor Fernando Santos in Qatar for a comfortable, hassle-free Euro 2024 qualification campaign, Ronaldo pulled the wool over everyone’s eyes in the opening two group stage matches.
Ronaldo is out of control and exposes Martinez’s familiar mistake
Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty before achieving redemption in the penalty shoot out with the Selecao advancing to the last eight to face an out-of-form France side
Dutch fans march in Munich ahead of Euro 2024 last-16 match against Romania
Watch as Dutch supporters hold a fan march in Munich ahead of the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 last-16 match against Romania on Tuesday 2 July.
The match, taking place at the Allianz Arena later today, is the penultimate round of 16 tie.
Plenty of drama has already unfolded over the last few days with England leaving it late to defeat Slovakia and Portugal needing penalties to get past Slovenia.
Watch: Dutch fans march in Munich ahead Euro 2024 last-16 match against Romania
Watch as Dutch supporters hold a fan march in Munich ahead of the Netherlands’ Euro 2024 last-16 match against Romania on Tuesday 2 July.
‘I am more excited than nervous’ says Marin
Romania midfielder Razvan Marin have had a delightful tournament so far helping his team finish top of Group E despite picking up a knock in the match against Slovakia.
In the build-up to tonight’s clash with the Netherlands he said: “I am more excited than nervous and I wish and really hope that after 90 minutes or extra time we will be in the quarter-finals.
“We are confident, we trained really well this week and have had plenty of time to recover, so we are ready. We prepared really well and I am sure we will be ready to give everything. We assure you that we want to continue and don’t wish to go home. We are ready for this and we need to show that on the pitch.
“I am fully fit after a small problem. I am recovered and ready to give everything. We’ve prepared as well as we could. We are aware that we’re facing a very powerful team with top players, but we also have our qualities and we know what we need to do. I am sure that we can win.”
Iordanescu on his message to the players:
“I said before this Euros that I’m going to take responsibility for whatever goes wrong, but for what goes well they have to take responsibility.
“I wasn’t trying to tell them that it’s up to them what the result will be tomorrow, but it was my challenge to them. I’m sure they understood and I’m waiting for them to react on the pitch.”
Pre-match thoughts from Romania coach Edward Iordanescu
Edward Iordanescu spoke at yesterday’s press conference about reaching the knockout rounds and how each match fro here on in is a historic one for Romania.
He said: “Tomorrow we will play a historic match. We have a chance to make history and equal our best performance at a European Championship. This is our motivation and this is a moment we have wished for and dreamed of for so long.
“I wouldn’t say training has been tougher, but maybe at a more elevated level, professionally speaking. My aim is to push them to be more focused, to give their best.
“I’ve been eager to gauge their mood, their mentality, and I wanted to make sure they are fully aware of the importance of this moment. This has been my priority.”
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