Following a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Austria that left them under fire from critics and supporters alike, the Netherlands rediscovered their form on Tuesday. They dominated Romania in their round of 16 encounter, winning 3-0. With Cody Gakpo netting his third goal of the championship and Donyell Malen adding two more late in the game, the Dutch side displayed a level of control that has seen them reach the Euro quarterfinals for the first time since 2008.
Romania started strong, holding the majority of possession for the first quarter-hour, but the Netherlands soon turned the tide. The deadlock was broken 20 minutes in when the man of the match, Gakpo, slotted a low drive past goalkeeper Florin Nita. Malen's late double ensured the Dutch would face Turkey in the quarterfinals on Sunday, July 7, in Berlin. Turkey earned their spot after Merih Demiral's two goals secured them a 2-1 win against Austria.
Gakpo was a nightmare for the Romanian defense all evening, culminating in an 83rd-minute assist where he kept the ball in play along the wing and served Malen for a simple finish. Malen then put the game beyond doubt in stoppage time, picking up the ball in midfield and driving into the box to score, a sign that the Dutch squad is finally finding its rhythm. Romania struggled to create any meaningful danger, spending most of the match chasing a Dutch side that dictated the pace and waited for the right moments to strike.
The statistical gap was clear: the Netherlands held two-thirds of the possession and created 24 chances—nearly five times as many as Romania. Their dominance was further evidenced by a Virgil van Dijk header that hit the woodwork and a Gakpo effort that was unfortunately flagged for offside.
Reflecting on the win, Gakpo noted that the performance was a direct response to their previous struggle. He mentioned that while there is always room for improvement, the team played quality football and scored great goals, proving they could remain in control even against a dangerous opponent.
Manager Ronald Koeman expressed pride in the team's reaction, stating that the players recognized how poor their previous outing had been and responded with a strong statement. According to Koeman, the Dutch were excellent throughout the match, with the exception of the first 10 minutes when they faced significant pressure.