Dutch must maintain “outstanding” performance to progress, says Koeman after victory

Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman praised his team’s outstanding performance after their convincing win over Romania tonight.

The Dutch needed to improve on some unconvincing group stage displays and did so in the round of 16, with Cody Gakpo’s first-half strike and Donyell Malen’s brace from the bench in the second seeing them through to the quarterfinals.

Speaking after the match, Koeman said: “Sometimes it’s difficult to explain why you play badly and why you reach a high level. Today 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. We caused Romania big problems with our attacking.”

Analysing their opponents, who had topped their group, he said: “I think Belgium had a lot of opportunities when playing against Romania and we created the same opportunities. Especially on the left side when they were playing against Belgium they had problems, and it was the case as well today.”

Reflecting on his team’s progress in the tournament so far, Koeman added:  “We have great talents in the team. Of course you need to win something – then people will compare it with 1988. Football has changed since then. You’ve seen in the last few games that everyone has had problems to continue in the tournament.

“The final result is always the most important. We’re Dutch, though, and we have to play well. The whole performance today was outstanding. That’s what we need to have a chance to continue in this tournament. If we go down with our performance, we won’t get to the final.”

The manager was full of praise for Cody Gakpo, who added a third goal to his tournament tally today adn looked one of their biggest goal threats – earning himself the Player of the Match award.

“He was incredibly important again. He is physically strong, fast and has extra qualities.

“First his position is on the left side because he is really dangerous if he comes one-versus-one with the right full back. He cuts inside, outside, he has those qualities.

“He’s maybe the (most) important player until now and I hope the rest can come to that level.”

The Netherlands will learn their opponent for Saturday’s quarterfinal in Berlin at the end of tonight’s clash between Türkiye and Austria. Follow reaction to both games here on FromTheSpot and on our X account.