EURO 2024 - Turkey has pulled off a minor sensation by reaching the quarterfinals, but it will be even more challenging here.
The Oranje had an underwhelming group stage at the European Championship. In their first match, they secured a hard-fought victory over Poland with a score of 2-1, but subsequent results were less impressive. In the second round, the Netherlands faced France. Les Bleus controlled the match and were closer to scoring, but their finishing let them down. The Netherlands also scored, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In the final group match, the Dutch were defeated. They twice equalized against Austria but conceded ten minutes before the end and couldn’t recover. Four points were enough to advance to the playoffs from third place.
The Netherlands were fortunate with their opponent in the Round of 16 - Romania. The Oranje scored in the first half and continued to control the game. After the break, Koeman's team extended their lead, scoring two more goals, ultimately winning 3-0. Overall, the Dutch have landed in a relatively easy playoff bracket, with their first truly formidable opponent potentially appearing only in the semifinals. However, surprises cannot be ruled out, as Austria managed to defeat the Netherlands, and Turkey triumphed over the Austrians in the Round of 16. Notably, central defender Matthijs de Ligt might miss this match, which would be a significant loss for the Oranje.
The Turkish national team is somewhat of a surprise quarterfinalist at the Euro. They navigated the group stage quite confidently. Their first match at the European Championship was highly emotional and thrilling. They faced Georgia, and the teams played an incredible game. Turkey took the lead, but Georgia equalized. It was a balanced game until Arda Güler scored a stunning goal from 25 meters. Turkey defeated Georgia 3-1. In the next match, Turkey was thrashed by Portugal, losing 0-3, but they remained close to the playoffs. In the final round, Turkey narrowly defeated the Czech Republic (2-1), amassing six points and advancing to the playoffs from second place.
They faced Austria, who unexpectedly surpassed the Netherlands and France in their group. The Austrians were the favorites, but Turkey surprised them from the start. Turkey scored the fastest goal in European Championship playoff history. Demiral scored at 58 seconds. Austria was reeling, and Turkey doubled their lead early in the second half. Demiral scored again from a corner. Austria pulled one back but couldn’t complete a comeback. However, the hero of the match, Demiral, received a two-match ban from UEFA for an illegal gesture during his goal celebration, which is a significant loss for Turkey.
Prediction: Netherlands -1
Netherlands vs Turkey stream and TV listing
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