Edward Iordănescu’s spirited Romania side were sent packing by a convincing Dutch team tonight, who booked their place in a quarterfinal against Türkiye.
Though they put up a fight, Romania were ultimately overpowered by the likes of Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen, who scored the Netherlands’ goals, they can hold their heads high after a strong campaign.
Here’s how both sets of players fared in our ratings.
Embed from Getty ImagesRomania
Florin Niță – 5
Made a good start, coming out early on to block Depay’s effort. Hpowever things went downhill from there; he should have done better to block Cody Gakpo’s opener, which snuck in at the near post despite his dive in the right direction. Made a good save in the second half but couldn’t stop either of Malen’s goals.
Vasile Mogoș – 4
Unfortunately for Mogoș he struggled to have much influence before he was forced to withdraw in the first half due to injury.
Andrei Burcă – 5
Burcă overall had a quieter game than some of his defensive colleagues. He was part of a generally solid unit, but did make a couple of notable errors. One misjudgement in his marking allowed de Vrij a free header and while he was let off that time, he had no such luck later when he was caught too far from Malen for the Dutchman’s first goal.
Radu Drăgușin – 6
Drăgușin was a composed and organised leader at the back for much of the game, putting in a couple of critical blocks and proving an improtant aerial presence on the Netherlands’ many corners. However, he made an unfortunate error that brings his score down: mistakenly thinking the ball had run out of play, he eased off and allowed Gakpo to get to it before him and set up Malen to tap it home.
Embed from Getty ImagesAndrei Rațiu – 6
Rațiu’s work ethic was infallible again today; he stayed composed under pressure, made an excellent stretching block to deny Memphis Depay and keep Romania in the game in the second half, and also drove forward to try to breathe life into their team’s attack. He found himself disappoitned to not have received the ball in promising positions once or twice. However, like most of his colleagues, a strong performance was dented by a couple of lapses in concentration (Gakpo successfully wrong-footed him for the opener).
Marius Marin – 5
A pretty quiet day at the office for Marius Marin. He stepped up[ to make a strong last-ditch tackle and deny Denzel Dumfries while Romania were down to ten men due to an injury early in the game. However, he very nearly led to the Netherlands’ second by handing Memphis Depay a freekick in a danerous area (it went under the wall adn was only just wide).
Ianis Hagi – 7
The midfielder put in a great performance despite sporting a very fetching hairnet-like accessory for the majority of the game after sustaining an early head injury. He caused trouble a few times with his footwork and was a key creative source – but his influence at the top became more limited as he was forced to track back and defend more and more. Hagi played that defensive role with equal vigour, putting in some important clearances, but his impact in this game was probably limited by being spread too thin.
Embed from Getty ImagesNicolae Stanciu – 6
Despite his best efforts, Stanciu couldn’t quite recreate the goal that really set Romania’s campaing alight during their opener against Ukraine – but his power and skill was still evident. He laid in a couple of good crosses to Dennis Man and made the most of limited opportunities to get the ball into the box from set pieces, as well as working back when they were under pressure. He just couldn’t quite strike the same fear into the opposition defence as he had in previous games, and didn’t have the chances to do so as the Netherlands dominated the ball.
Răzvan Marin – 5
Good cross to create the first chance of the game very early on but overall another player whose impact was limited severely by the opposition’s dominance of possession.
Dennis Man – 6
Man looked like one of Romania’s bigger threats with some good footwork and audacious efforts from distance. He also put in a great crossfield ball to Hagi. However, he lacked opportunities as the Netherlands grew into the game and squandered one chance by overrunning it in the second half (leaving his team vulnerable to a counter-attack).
Denis Drăguș – 6
Another player whose game wasn’t helped by having to be more defensively involved. He started out as target man in the box, and was through on goal after 13 minutes but couldn’t sort his feet out. As the game continued he was forced to cover a lot of ground tracking back to help the defence, particularly when they were temporarily reduced to ten men from an injury. A harsh critic could say he was caught napping in his marking on Cody Gakpo’s disallowed goal in the second half – but overall his fate was the same as a lot of his colleagues. he was a quality attacker who simply wasn’t afforded enough chances.
Substitutes
Bogdan Racovițan – 6
Racovițan was thrown into the deep end when he had to replace Mogos just as the Netherlands found their feet in the first half. He looked a bit unsettled at first and his error before halftime almost handed a second goal to the Netherlands, allowing Dumfries to play the ball into the box for Simons.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever he redeemed himself in the second half – a brilliant body-on-the-line block stopped Tijjani Reijnders’ effort reaching the goal and he made another almost goal-line clearance.
Denis Alibec – 6
Brought on to try to get Romania the goal they so desperately needed; he was also afforded very little in the way of chances by a strong Netherlands side, but deserves credit for what would have been a great chance if play continued. He perfectly timed a flick on the stretch to get the ball past Dumfries and look to break through the Dutch back line, but the referee harshly pulled it back for a high boot.
Valentin Mihăilă, Darius Olaru, and Alexandru Cicâldău N/A – all were unable to have much impact after their introduction.
Netherlands
Bart Verbruggen – 6
Like the rest ofd his team, looked slightly unsettled by early pressure with a couple of slightly rushed clearances. Had little to do for most of the second half but was quick to react the few times he needed to. Watched the ball well to punch away a good freekick in a crowded penalty area, and generally did what was asked of him.
Nathan Aké – 7
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother solid display at the back for the Manchester City man. Provided aerial support at their many, many, many corners, found space in the box and assisted in pushing the ball forward. Also handled the threat of Dennis Man well.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
Decent distribution early on; quiet rest of the first half, though his error just before halftime allowed Drăguș a shot. he was part of a defensive unit that kept a clean sheet but wasn’t a standout performer as his colleagues on the flanks drove forward and he tended to sit a little deeper. A valuable presence in the box on corners, though he did head one great chance into the post.
Stefan de Vrij – 6
Much like van Dijk, the nature of the full backs pressing higher up the pitch meant de Vrij didn’t have the chance to shine as much as he had to sit back. Nonetheless he put in a decent showing and was occasionally handy at the end of Depay’s corners – though he too missed a great header opportunity.
Denzel Dumfries – 7
Dumfries stood out in a wingback role in this game, key in advancing the play and creating chances. He was strong in the air, picked out some good passes, and didn’t neglect his defensive duties either.
Embed from Getty ImagesTijjani Reijnders – 7
Struggled to influence game in the opening minutes but grew into it and his reading of the game was excellent. Picked out several key chance-creating passes (particularly to Dumfries on the right) and looking composed in midfield. Made an excellent run forward early in the second half and a goal at the end of it would’ve been thoroughly deserved.
Jerdy Schouten – 7
Generally composed on the ball and a good playmaker for his side. Adept at spotting passes through the lines and holding up the play in the midfield.
Cody Gakpo – 8
A relatively quiet start to the game but showed quickly why he is never one to take your eye off, opening the scoring with a brilliant strike between Niță and the post. Ran an awfully long way to try to find another in the second half and forced a good save from Niță. Also bagged himself an assist with a nice skip down the byline past Drăgușin for his team’s second, where he did very well to keep the ball in play. Tried two other lovely flicked setups in quick succession but neither teammate could finish.
Embed from Getty ImagesXavi Simons – 7
Had his team’s first shot on target but didn’t trouble Niță; however continued to influence the game by always looking to cut in. Unfortunately couldn’t sort his feet out right before halftime when he absolutely should have scored and again in the second half denied himself an opportunity by taking too many touches. However, he was influential and a headache for the defenders throughout and key in wearing the opposition down.
Steven Bergwijn – 6
Good physicality especially in battles on the right-hand side, including with players like Drăguș. Linked up well with Jerdy Schouten too and ended up withdrawing at halftime due to injury.
Memphis Depay – 7
Continues to be threat on goal and a headache around the box. Good deliveries for the Netherlands’ 13 corner kicks and came close with a freekick under the wall that was just inches wide. He also should have scored in the second half though an undeniably excellent block denied him.
Substitutes
Donyell Malen – 8
Not massively involved at first, but absolutely made up for it later on. Started by setting up Gakpo’s disallowed effort and almost set the Liverpool man up again towards the end – but was spot on with his finishing. Smart positioning put him on the spot to turn home the Netherlands’ second while their third and final goal saw him put in a great run and a solid finish. Couldn’t ask for much more.
Embed from Getty ImagesWout Weghorst – 5
Ran about like a madman putting pressure on the Romanian back line for the last few minutes but didn’t have a lot of time to make a serious impact.
Joey Veerman – 6
Saw out the game well enough after being introduced for Schouten, but will be frustrated to have missed a chance after a setup by Gakpo
Micky van de Ven – 6
Not many opportunities to impact the match but did look energised, good sprint down the touchline to almost set up a chance.
Daley Blind – N/A
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