EURO 2024: Netherlands roar back to beat Turkey and book semi-final against England

EURO 2024: Netherlands roar back to beat Turkey and book semi-final against England

Faruq Ibrahim 21:55 - 06.07.2024

The Netherlands complete the final four of the European Championships, after sealing a comeback victory against Turkey.

The Netherlands came from a goal behind to beat Turkey 2-1 and advance to the semi-finals of the European Championships, with England lying in wait.

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Samet Akaydin gave Turkey the lead in the 35th minute before Stefan de Vrij grabbed an equaliser for the Dutch in the 70th minute. Six minutes later, Mert Mulder bundled the ball into his own goal to hand the Netherlands a 2-0 victory.

How it happened

UEFA’s two-match ban for Turkey’s hero against Austria, Merih Demiral, dominated the news cycle before the game, with Vincenzo Montella forced to tinker with his team without the Al-Ahli defender. 

The Netherlands started on the front foot, and Turkey were forced to dig in. The Turks defended doggedly and also looked threatening in offensive transitions. Their approach worked to perfection as they took the lead in the 35th minute after Arda Guler's inch-perfect cross found Akaydin, who in turn, headed past Bart Verbruggen. 

The Netherlands came out roaring in the second-half creating chance after chance, but it was Turkey that came close to scoring the next goal in the game when Guler’s effort from range crashed against the crossbar. 

The Oranje soon found an in the 70th minute, with a header of their own. De Vrij headed from the near post to beat Mert Gunok. Six minutes later, Muldur turned the ball into his own net in an attempt to intercept Denzel Dumfries’s cross from reaching the on-fire Cody Gakpo.

Turkey had a late flurry of attacks in an attempt to save their Euro dreams, but the Dutch held on to join England in the semi-finals.