🏆Netherlands seal comeback win over Türkiye, England through on penalties
The EURO 2024 quarter-finals reach their conclusion on Saturday with two more intriguing games.
Here’s what happened.
Breathless six minutes sees Netherlands come from behind to win
Scorers: Akaydin 35′; De Vrij 70′, Müldur (OG) 76′
Türkiye hearts were broken as Netherlands fought back to take a 2-1 win and reach the semi-final of EURO 2024.
Memphis Depay had a good chance to score right from the get-go, but the striker slipped at the crucial moment and the shot went well over the bar.
The match seemed to be following the general pattern of cagey beginnings in this tournament’s knockout stages, but then Real Madrid’s 19-year-old sensation Arda Güler swung in a delightful cross right to the far post, which was gratefully nodded home by Samet Akaydin for his first goal for Türkiye.
Into the second half and Güler was the star of the show once again as he hit a wicked curling free-kick against the post.
Just when it seemed that Netherlands were struggling to get any kind of foothold into the game, Wout Weghorst hit the side netting and won a corner, and Stefan de Vrij rose up from a cross that came from the resulting corner and delivered a bulet header into the back of the net.
One soon became two when a Memphis Depay cross was scruffily bundled over the line by Cody Gakpo, in what was a truly remarkable turnaround.
A frantic final few minutes ensued, and Bart Vebruggen showed lightning-quick reactions to get down and make a save to keep out Kerem Akturkoglu’s effort in stoppage time.
Netherlands managed to hold out, though and will now face England in the semi-final on Wednesday.
It’s coming nach Hause?
Scorers: Saka 80; Embolo 74′
England have beaten Switzerland on penalties to book their place in the EURO 2024 semi-finals.
After the match finished 1-1 after extra time, it was Trent Alexander-Arnold who netted the winning penalty to book a last four clash with either Netherlands or Türkiye.
England opted for a change in formation to try and finally click into gear in this tournament, with Gareth Southgate switching to a 3-4-2-1 formation.
The tactical change allowed Bukayo Saka more space to run into down the right-hand side and the Arsenal man was the star of the show in the opening 45 minutes.
His pace and directness was the Three Lions main outlet in the first half, but their final ball was still lacking as both sides went into the break having failed to create any meaningful chances.
Into the second half and it was Breel Embolo who had the first effort on goal after 50 minutes, as he turned Ezri Konsa in the box but could only fire at Jordan Pickford.
Embolo was at it again just a few moments later as the Swiss striker wrestled with Konsa inside the area but saw his header come off the Villa man and into Pickford’s arms.
And with 15 minutes to go the deadlock was finally broken as Embolo ghosted in at the far post and tapped home to give Switzerland the lead.
But their lead didn’t last long as Saka, England’s best player all game, cut in from the right and fired a low effort into the far corner.
Declan Rice thought he had given the Three Lions a lead early in extra time but his curled effort was brilliantly tipped around the post by Yann Sommer.
With the game level after 120 minutes we went to penalties as Alexander-Arnold netted the winning spot kick to send England through.
