Netherlands secured their spot in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 courtesy of a 2-1 victory over Turkey in the competition's fourth and final quarter-final on Saturday night.
Turkey led in the 35th minute courtesy of a header from Samet Akaydin, but Stefan De Vrij levelled the scores, before an own goal from Mert Muldur handed Ronald Koeman's side the win.
Netherlands will now take on England in the final four of the European Championship on Wednesday night.
Here, Sports Mole provides an in-depth analysis of the last-eight contest, including highlights, our man of the match and the standout moment.
HIGHLIGHTS
1st min: Huge chance for Memphis Depay to send Netherlands ahead in the first minute, but the attacker fires over the crossbar from a very promising position. Should have at least tested the goalkeeper.
7th min: Another opportunity for Memphis, who again finds himself inside the Turkey box, but the Netherlands international is crowded out just before he can have a shot.
11th min: Turkey's first opportunity comes for Salih Ozcan after a counter-attack, but the midfielder fires over the crossbar from outside the box.
12th min: Xavi Simons curls over the Turkey crossbar from outside the penalty box.
30th min: Simons picks up a yellow card for a poor challenge on Arda Guler, and he is perhaps a touch fortunate to only escape with a booking due to the nature of the tackle.
32nd min: Guler hits one over the crossbar from distance.
35th min: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 0-1 TURKEY (AKAYDIN)
Turkey make the breakthrough in the 35th minute of the contest, with Akaydin heading a cross from Guler into the back of the net - it was a truly wonderful delivery from the Real Madrid attacker.
Turkey have the lead! 🇹🇷
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 6, 2024
Samet Akaydin heads his nation a goal up with his first goal for Turkey 🤩#Euro2024 | #NEDTUR pic.twitter.com/cAgYzX9zzR
45th min: HALF-TIME: NETHERLANDS 0-1 TURKEY
54th min: Big chance for the Netherlands early in the second period, as substitute Wout Weghorst rises inside the Turkey box, but he is just crowded out at the vital moment.
55th min: Guler charges clear for Turkey and is fouled by Nathan Ake, who picks up a yellow card. Ake is fortunate that De Vrij was alongside him.
56th min: Guler hits the post with a wonderful free kick from distance.
57th min: Relatively comfortable save for the Turkey goalkeeper to deny Memphis, who was carrying a threat for the Netherlands when Ronald Koeman's side broke forward.
65th min: Big chance for Turkey to score a second, but the Netherlands goalkeeper makes a brilliant save to deny Kenan Yildiz, before Weghorst manages to clear ahead of Baris Alper Yilmaz.
70th min: Big chance for Weghorst once again, but the striker sees his effort kept out by Turkey's goalkeeper at the far post. Should have done better.
70th min: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 1-1 TURKEY
Netherlands level the scores in the 70th minute, with De Vrij heading a delivery from Memphis into the back of the net from inside the box. Not sure where the marking was from Turkey there.
What a game we've got on our hands 🤩
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 6, 2024
Stefan de Vrij equalises for the Netherlands 🇳🇱#Euro2024 | #DENTUR pic.twitter.com/SU6TGllt60
76th min: GOAL! NETHERLANDS 2-1 TURKEY (MULDUR OG)
Netherlands take the lead in the 76th minute of the contest, as Gakpo looks to turn a low Denzel Dumfries cross into the back of the net from close range, but it later goes down as an own goal.
The Netherlands lead Turkey 2-1 🇳🇱
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 6, 2024
Will Turkey be able to turn this around...? 🤔#Euro2024 | #NEDTUR pic.twitter.com/bfbs6YB6EH
84th min: Cenk Tosun heads over the crossbar, as Turkey looked to respond.
85th min: Two big chances for Turkey in quick succession, but Zeki Celik has a shot blocked, before Kerem Akturkoglu has a shot deflected behind for a corner.
88th min: Tosun has another half-chance, but he heads wide.
89th min: Smart stop from the Turkey goalkeeper to keep out a strike from Gakpo.
90th min: Akturkoglu heads wide at the far post, as Turkey come close again.
90 min+2: Incredible save from the Dutch goalkeeper this time to keep out an effort from Semih Kilicsoy, who looked to be finding the back of the net with a header.
90 min+6: RED CARD! Bertug Yildirim, who was not even on the pitch, is sent off for something that he has said to the officials.
90 min+7: FULL-TIME: NETHERLANDS 2-1 TURKEY
MAN OF THE MATCH - ARDA GULER
© Reuters
It was not to be for Turkey, but the performance of Guler simply cannot be overlooked here.
The Real Madrid attacker provided a wonderful weak-footed assist for his side to make the breakthrough on Saturday night, and he hit the post with a brilliant free kick in the second period.
Guler deserved to be on the winning side in the quarter-final, and Real Madrid supporters will have been delighted with the performance of the 19-year-old.
According to WhoScored, he finished with a 90% pass completion, while he also completed two successful dribbles in a fine all-round attacking performance.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
It appeared that Turkey would be taking this match into extra-time, with Kilicsoy heading towards goal in second-half stoppage time, but Netherlands goalkeeper Verbruggen made a stunning save.
The reactions of the stopper were absolutely superb, and it must go down as one of the saves of the tournament.
BEST STAT
👥 The largest crowd of Euro 2024 so far just witnessed the Netherlands 🇳🇱 reach their 𝙎𝙄𝙓𝙏𝙃 semi-final of the competition 😱 What a comeback! 💪#NEDTUR #EURO2024
— Flashscore.com (@Flashscorecom) July 6, 2024
Check out the match stats 👇https://t.co/u9wpcwIEqH pic.twitter.com/iRN4rmKXMq
MATCH STATS
Possession: Netherlands 56%-44% Turkey
Shots: Netherlands 11-15 Turkey
Shots on target: Netherlands 4-4 Turkey
Corners: Netherlands 3-7 Turkey
Fouls: Netherlands 15-7 Turkey
LINEUPS
NETHERLANDS (4-3-3): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake (Van de Ven 74'); Schouten, Simons (Frimpong 87'), Reijnders (Veerman 74'); Bergwijn (Weghorst 46'), Memphis (Zirkzee 87'), Gakpo
TURKEY (4-2-3-1): Gunok; Muldur (Celik 82'), Akaydin (Tosun 82'), Bardakci, Kadioglu; Ozcan (Yokuslu 77'), Ayhan (Kilicsoy 89); Yilmaz, Calhanoglu, Yildiz (Akturkoglu 77'); Guler
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