Netherlands semi-finalists at European Championship after nerve-wracking second half against Turkey

The Dutch national team can call themselves semi-finalists at the European Championship after a nerve-wracking quarter-final against Turkey. The team of national coach Ronald Koeman was trailing 0-1 for a long time, but after Stefan de Vrij's equalizer in the 70th minute, it became 2-1 six minutes later thanks to an own goal by Mert Müldür. The Dutch team will face England in the semi-final, who defeated Switzerland on penalties earlier in the evening.

Bart Verbruggen was in goal for Oranje. The four-man defense consisted of Denzel Dumfries, De Vrij, Virgil van Dijk and Nathan Aké. Jerdy Schouten, Xavi Simons and Tijjani Reijnders formed the midfield behind attackers Steven Bergwijn, Memphis Depay and Gakpo. Bergwijn was surprisingly preferred over Donyell Malen.

For Turkey, Mert Günok was the goalkeeper on duty. National coach Vincenzo Montella opted for five defenders: Müldür, Kaan Ayhan, Samet Akaydin, Abdülkerim Bardakci and Ferdi Kadioglu. Striker Arda Güler was supported by midfielders Baris Alper Yilmaz, Salih Özcan, Hakan Çalhanoglu and Kenan Yildiz. Ismail Yüksek and Haarlem's Orkun Kökçü watched due to suspension.

After less than a minute of play, the Dutch team had their first big chance. A combination between Gakpo and Memphis failed, but the latter fortunately got the ball and was allowed to take a free shot from the edge of the penalty area. The striker shot over, partly because he slipped at the moment of taking a shot. In the early stages, it became clear how the game would play out. The Dutch team enjoyed possession, Turkey used the long ball and lurked for a foul.

Good preparatory work by Kadioglu led to the first goal threat of Turkey. Özcan tried it with a long-range shot. Hard, but not accurate. From a similar position on the other side, Simons, who did not play a lucky opening phase, fired a disappointing shot. The Dutch gradually lost the initiative. Turkey did not really become dangerous, but they did come a step closer to Verbruggen.

Turkey was often threatening, especially from standard situations. Good and just-in-time interventions by Verbruggen and Schouten prevented that threat from developing into big chances. Verbruggen was visibly dissatisfied with the Turkish initiative, but that did not change much.

In fact, ten minutes before half-time, it was a goal from a corner kick, which was caused by Dumfries, who thought it would be a goal kick, letting it go. Güler passed to the far post, over Verbruggen, and Samet Akaydin headed it in: 0-1. Bergwijn's long-range shot, which just before half-time went very wide, was exemplary of the dramatic phase that the Dutch were in.

After the break, a different approach was needed and Koeman decided to sacrifice Bergwijn for Wout Weghorst. Five minutes after his entrance, Weghorst headed back excellently to Memphis, who was just a toe's length short of tapping in the equalizer. Weghorst brought new impetus to the attack of the Dutch team, who nevertheless had a very difficult time with Turkey. That country also came very close to 2-0 via Güler, who showed his class and shot a free kick against the outside of the post.

The Netherlands slowly but surely got better in the game. However, they still had to be careful of the counter. After Aké had already received a yellow card for taking down Güler, Van Dijk was shown the same colour card for taking down Yilmaz. From the free kick after Van Dijk's foul, it almost became 2-0 again, when a shot from Yildiz was somehow stopped by Verbruggen. From the rebound, it seemed to become 2-0 after all, if it weren't for Weghorst's fantastic tackle.

Weghorst came on excellently and suddenly got a free shot at the far post. Where he could have passed wide, he went for his own success and came up against Günok in the near corner. That moment worked out excellently, because the subsequent corner resulted in the equalizer. Memphis gave a sharp cross and De Vrij headed it in hard in a free position: 1-1.

The Dutch supporters in Berlin could cheer again six minutes after the equalizer. Dumfries gave a sharp cross and after Memphis just failed to get to the ball, Gakpo did. The left winger tapped in at the far post after winning the duel with Müldür and saw the ball roll in agonizingly slowly: 2-1. Müldür got the (own) goal behind his name.

Suddenly Turkey almost came alongside. A cross from the left seemed to be headed in by Zeki Celik, but the AS Roma defender was stopped by substitute Micky van de Ven, who saved the Dutch from a huge disappointment. The rebound was also unsuccessful.

The Dutch team also had a huge chance. After some great work by debutant and substitute Zirkzee, Gakpo fired a hard shot at Günok. In injury time, Verbruggen became a hero by saving a close-range attempt by Semih Kiliçsoy. The Dutch team survived the Turkish storm and are in the semi-finals against England.

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