The Netherlands struck two goals in seven minutes of the second half to fight back and defeat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday, thus setting up a Euro 2024 semi-final with England. Samet Akaydin sent Turkey ahead in the first half but Stefan de Vrij headed the Netherlands level and Murt Muldur turned into his own net under pressure from Cody Gakpo after 76 minutes to hand the Dutch victory.
The build-up to the quarter-final clash in Berlin had been overshadowed by a diplomatic row between Turkey and Germany after their last-16 hero Merih Demiral was banned for two matches for making a controversial salute.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan watched the match at the Olympiastadion, as did tens of thousands of fans who greeted every sustained Dutch period of possession with a barrage of whistles.
But the Netherlands withstood pressure from the stands and Turkey’s energetic style, plus the flurry of late chances, to reach the semi-finals of the Euros for the first time since 2004. Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella fielded five at the back, optimistic the young side would catch Netherlands on the counter-attack.
The 1988 Euros champions fashioned the first opening, Gakpo and Memphis Depay combining well before the latter blazed over.
Koeman captained Netherlands to glory 36 years ago but – until their comprehensive 3-0 victory over Romania in the last 16 – the Dutch appeared incapable of challenging for the trophy having sneaked through their group in third place.
Their level dropped off to that weaker version of themselves following those early forays and they allowed Turkey to get a real foothold in proceedings.
Montella’s team started pinning the Netherlands back with a series of set-pieces and capitalised after 35 minutes.
The 19-year-old Real Madrid playmaker curled over a cross full of enticement with his weaker right foot and Akayedn — back from suspension to take the place of banned Demiral — headed powerfully home at the far post.
There were cheers and flares lit among the Turkish fans who predictably filled three-quarters of the ground due to the vast diaspora of Turks in Germany.
– Weghorst the game-changer –
Koeman was forced to mix things up at the interval, and brought on Wout Weghorst – their hero against Poland in their opening match – for Steven Bergwijn.
The burly Burnley striker made an instant impact, providing the Netherlands with someone to hit up front, which they did with some regularity.
Guler continued to probe at the other end and was scythed down by Nathan Ake as threatened to get free.
The youngster took the resulting free-kick himself and crashed a low effort against Bart Verbruggen’s post with the goalkeeper scrambling.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk was booked for fouling the rapid Baris Alper Yilmaz as he flew past him on the right wing.
Turkey, in their first quarter-final at a major tournament since 2008, went close to scoring a second but Verbruggen saved well from Kenan Yildiz’s stinging low effort from the edge of the box,
With 20 minutes left Weghorst of forced a smart save from Mert Gunok but soon after, the Turkish goalkeeper was beaten by De Vrij.
Memphis Depay swung in a cross after a short corner and Inter Milan defender De Vrij met it with a towering header to level the score.
Just six minutes later Netherlands went ahead when Denzel Dumfries swept in a dangerous low cross which Muldur bundled into his own net under heavy pressure from Euros joint-top scorer Gakpo. It was the 10th own goal of the tournament.
The Netherlands’ Weghorst did not have hands on either, but his presence in the box unsettled a Turkey defense that had otherwise kept the Netherlands largely at bay in the first half.
Turkey really should have made it after chances for Zeki Celik and Kerem Akturkoglu were blocked, yet the Netherlands lived to fight another day — against England Wednesday in Dortmund.