The Netherlands returned in the second half with a De Vrij header and an own goal from Turkey. They will face England in the semifinal, who edged out Switzerland 5-3 on penalties in Saturday’s earlier tie.
The makeup of the Euro 2024 semifinals has been decided as follows: Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands are the last four remaining teams.
The next round gets underway on Tuesday when Spain take on France in Munich, with the Netherlands entertaining England a day later in Dortmund.
Netherlands 2-1 Turkey: Dutch complete sensational six-minute comeback to reach first Euros semi-final since 2004
A first-half header from SametAkaydin gave Turkey a 1-0 halftime lead over the Netherlands in Berlin on Saturday in the second Euro 2024 quarter-final.
Akaydin punished a spell of Turkish pressure by netting in the 35th minute. Arda Guler provided a butter-soft cross for the defender to nod in off the underside of the crossbar.
It ignited wild scenes among Turkey’s coaching staff and supporters. Guler was mobbed in the dugout with hugs, while supporters in the west end of the stadium fired off flares. Many remained on their feet after the goal.
It was before the break that the Dutch pushed for an equalizer as much as possible, amidst a chorus of whistles.
However, the Netherlands arrived in the second half with an attitude altogether different.
They finally found the equalizer through a headed effort of Inter’s Stefan de Vrij, set by Memphis Depay in the 70th minute, after grossly missing an opportunity.
Only another six minutes had passed, and the Dutch completely turned around the score as Gakpo’s tap-in effort was stirred into his own net by Mert Müldür of Turkey.
Turkey reacted with fury, fashioning at least two or three risky openings inside the final ten minutes, one of which actually was saved on the line, but the Netherlands held.
England reach semis after perfect shootout against Switzerland
England confirmed a place in the semis at Euro 2024 after a nervy encounter in which the Three Lions qualified via penalties after a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, their third consecutive draw in as many quarter-finals.
England won the critical shootout 5-3, thanks to Trent Alexander-Arnold, while Switzerland paid for Manuel Akanji’s miss.
This was an extremely balanced match, and at moments, it could have gone both ways. The Swiss proved once again to be a difficult and organized opponent.
For England, undoubtedly Bukayo Saka was the man of the game; he kept the team alive with his goal for 1-1 but remained dangerous and at the center of the game all through the 120 minutes.
The first forty-five minutes were rather tight but intense without any big chance for either team and no shot fired at target.
England mainly relied on right-winger Bukayo Saka.
The Arsenal player was the most dangerous element of his side, with rapid incursions on the right wing towards the box, and a few marvellous first touches. But Switzerland fended well.
Murat Yakin’s team had left no room for the opponent, again appearing among those best configured in the tournament.
Switzerland’s first concrete chance came through a header from Embolo from short distance in the 56th minute, which did not carry enough load to worry England goalkeeper Pickford.
A few minutes later, a long ball from Switzerland’s defense caught England completely wrong-footed, forcing the Three Lions to make a last-ditch tackle for a corner kick to Switzerland.
They just kept building till they found it with Embolo in the 75th minute. The Monaco striker managed to worm his way through the very center of England’s back line to then send a tepid, low cross beyond Pickford just as he was lunging.
But five minutes later, England responded to equal the score with Saka, due to the skip and an absolute perfectly slotted shot from distance low left into the corner.
Switzerland had the best chance just before extra time with a cross from the right wing but neither Embolo nor Ndoye quite got to the ball.
Five minutes into extra time, Rice sent in a sudden powerful shot from long distance that so nearly gave England the lead, but Ben Summers was at the right post.
Minutes later, it was Bellingham’s turn. He got good contact on the effort, toward the top left corner, but not hard enough to surprise the Swiss goalkeeper.
In the second half of extra time, the Swiss took matters into their own hands, fashioning three chances in quick succession—the best one was substitute Xherdan Shaqiri hitting the post from the set play!
England, however, complained over a potential penalty in the last minute of extra-time.
England scored five out of five in the penalty shootout—the last one dispatched by Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Switzerland goalkeeper Yan Sommer is usually proficient at saving penalties, but all of England’s shootouts were perfectly placed, and there is really nothing he could do.
The one by Manuel Akanji was easily saved by Pickford, as he shot slow and low.
Other England shootouts before the winning, fifth penalty, were converted in this order: Palmer, Bellingham, Saka, and Toney.