Football: Netherlands, Turkey advance to Euro 2024 quarter-finals with victories over Romania, Austria

Netherlands and Turkey have booked their spots in the Euro quarter-finals, claiming wins in their Round-of-16 matches.  

Netherlands' Cody Gakpo scored his third goal of the European Championship and substitute Donyell Malen added two more late, as the Dutch defeated Romania 3-0, while a goal in the opening minute helped Turkey hold on against Austria 2-1.  

The Dutch, who had been lambasted by their media and fans for a poor defensive display during their 3-2 loss to Austria in poolplay, were more composed and in control, as they reached the Euro quarter-finals for the first time since 2008.  

Kaan Ayhan of Turkiye celebrates victory.
Kaan Ayhan of Turkiye celebrates victory. Photo credit: Getty Images

They started slowly at the Munich Football Arena, as underdogs Romania, roared on by their yellow-clad supporters, controlled the ball for the first quarter of an hour, before the Netherlands slowly started to get a grip on the match.  

The Dutch broke the deadlock after 20 minutes, when Player of the Match Gakpo fired low past Florin Nita at the keeper's near post, before Malen's late double clinched the victory  

"This was the answer we had to our last performance - good game, good goals, we played good football," said Gakpo. "Of course, we could do better, but a good showing after the last game.

"A good step in that next direction. We felt we were in control, even though they were a dangerous opponent."  

Meanwhile, Turkey's Merih Demiral struck in each half to guide his team to a high-octane 2-1 victory over Austria to book his country's spot in the last eight.  

The central defender scored after 57 seconds and then added another with a powerful header just before the hour mark to set up a quarter-final at Berlin against the Netherlands.  

For tournament darkhorses Austria, who cut the deficit through Michael Gregoritsch midway through the second half, it was a bitter end to their European championship, with the team still waiting for their first win in a knockout match at any major tournament since 1954.  

The Turks snatched the lead in a frantic start to the game, when Demiral pounced on a goalmouth scramble to fire into the roof of the net for the fastest-ever goal in a European championship knockout match.  

Turkey were happy to leave possession to Austria, who beat them 6-1 in March, but kept pressing high with a 5-4-1 system and looked to catch them on the break, disrupting their opponents' usual no-frills playing style.  

Despite missing suspended captain Hakan Calhanoglou, the Turks - semi-finalists at Euro 2008 - kept Austria at bay, with Ralf Rangnick's side having no efforts on target in the first half.  

The Austrians came out fighting after the break and should have levelled six minutes after the restart, when captain Marko Arnautovic was sent through with only the keeper to beat, but his shot was blocked by Mert Gunok.  

Instead, the Turks struck again, with Demiral beating two players in the air to head home for a 2-0 lead in the 59th minute.  

Amid pouring rain, Austria pulled a goal back, when substitute Gregoritsch finished at the far post in the 66th minute, but despite late pressure and a golden chance for Christoph Baumgartner, who was denied by a superb save from Gunok in stoppage time, Rangnick's men could not find an equaliser.

Reuters