Euro 2024 Preview: Netherlands -v- Türkiye

A Netherlands fan looks on during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Netherlands and Austria at Olympiastadion on June 25, 2024 in Berlin

A Netherlands fan looks on during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Netherlands and Austria at Olympiastadion on June 25, 2024 in Berlin Credit: Photo by Boris Streubel - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Macdara Ferris reports from Berlin

NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands return to the venue where they lost their last group game to Austria 3-2. Since then they mauled Romania 3-0 in Munich and so bring momentum with them when they come up against Turkiye in this final quarter-final of the tournament (kick off 8pm Irish time / 9pm in Berlin).

Reflecting on their improvement since their last visit to Berlin, speaking in the pre-match press conference, Ronald Koeman said: "Sometimes it's difficult to explain why you play badly in one game and why you reach a high level in another. [Against Romania] the start was hard, but we eventually found our game and caused them problems.

"Maybe one critical point was that it took too long to score the second goal. The final result is always the most important thing. We're Dutch, though, and we have to play well. The whole performance  was outstanding."

Defender Denzel Dumfries, speaking to euro2024.com, said: "We learned our lessons from the Austria game.

"We had a lot of conversations last week. I think we did very well, especially in the pressing and ball possession. We're very proud because we came back from the Austria game."

TÜRKIYE

With Germany eliminated on Friday, Turkiye can be seen to take over the mantle of a home team with the number of Turks living in Germany. Berlin’s Olympiastadion will be decked out in the red of the Crescent-Stars.



"I'm very excited to play in Berlin in front of our supporters," said midfielder Arda Güler to euro2024. "The Netherlands, of course, are very difficult opponents. But we believe in ourselves."

They played in the venue last November defeating Germany in a friendly 3-2 and so will carry confidence into this game.

On the eve of the match Turkish manager Vincenzo Montella said: "The Netherlands are a very talented team like us so it will be a tough match. We are one of the teams with the least tournament experience, so we are all the happier to have come this far.

"I don't believe in formations, but I do believe in tactics. We try to change from match to match according to our opponents."

Whether they can sustain the energy that they’ve brought to the last two games remains to be seen. They needed a late winner against Czechia in the last group game and they overcame Austria in the last 16 in Leipzig in another energy sapping match.

Merih Demiral got both Türkiye goals and they needed a superlative last-gasp stop from Mert Günok to preserve a 2-1 victory. Demiral is suspended for this match due to his nationalist ‘wolf salute’ after the final whistle on the pitch in the round of 16.



He is one of three players suspended along with Orkun Kökçü and İsmail Yüksek. A further eight players are walking a semi-final suspension tightrope - Kaan Ayhan, Uğurcan Çakır, Zeki Çelik, Arda Güler, Mert Günok, Mert Müldür, Salih Özcan and Kenan Yıldız.

Referee: Clément Turpin (France)

MATCH STATS

The winner of the tie will play either Switzerland or England in Dortmund on Wednesday night.

Türkiye have been knocked out in the group stage of the Euros in their last two appearances but memorably made it to the semi-finals in 2008, when they lost 3-2 to Germany.

Both sides are in their first quarter-final at European Championship for 16 years – last time the Dutch made this stage of a Euros they lost to Russia in extra-time.

The sides met in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. A Burak Yılmaz hat-trick helped Türkiye to a 4-2 victory in the teams' opening qualifier in March 2021 but the Netherlands got their own back in September, Memphis Depay grabbing a treble of his own in a 6-1 triumph.

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile