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Turkey caused the biggest upset of the Euro 2024 round of 16 as they eliminated Austria on Tuesday night. An even tougher task awaits them in the quarter-finals, as they face a Dutch outfit that hit their stride against Romania.
The Oranje had been criticised heavily by Dutch media for lacklustre performances in Group D. Perhaps a relatively easy last 16 opponent was what they needed to kick themselves into gear, which is exactly what they did versus the Romanians on Tuesday.
A goal and an assist from Cody Gakpo - the tournament’s joint-top scorer - inspired the Dutch, and Donyell Malen’s brace may have earned him a start in the next game.
The draw has been kind to the Netherlands, and despite their injuries in midfield, they are getting closer to another European Championship title, which would be their first major trophy since 1988.
Many expected Turkey to go out of Euro 2024 on Tuesday night, but their fast start and resolute defensive effort showed why they aren’t to be written off.
The Crescent-Stars have been dubbed dark horses in recent European Championships but while those shouts were in hindsight premature, they are now belatedly coming to fruition.
Merih Demiral, Turkey’s hero in Leipzig, is banned for the quarter-final after making an apparent far-right gesture but Vincenzo Montella will welcome Hakan Calhanoglu back from suspension.
The Turks have conceded in each of their four matches thus far, and may struggle to keep it tight against a Dutch side with in-form forwards.
The Netherlands and Turkey have never met at a major tournament, but they have contested plenty of matches of significance. They’ve been drawn together four times in FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and were also both in Group A of Euro 2016 qualifying.
Most recently, the nations made up two thirds of a 2022 World Cup qualifying group. Both meetings were goal-filled, as Turkey won 4-2 in Istanbul before the Oranje came out 6-1 winners in Amsterdam.
Hat-tricks were scored in each of those match-ups, with Burak Yilmaz delivering for Turkey and Memphis Depay doing the same for the Dutch.
Turkey have not been the best at keeping opponents out as of late and they are up against a Golden Boot contender in the last eight.
The Dutch were practically semi-final mainstays for a couple of decades after they won the Euros in 1988, and now they are looking to end their drought.
Gakpo’s stats for the tournament are tremendous. The Liverpool forward has recorded 17 shot creating actions, and has three goals plus an assist to his name. The best bet for this fixture is for the Dutchman to score or give an assist against Turkey.
Gakpo has been at the centre of everything positive from a Dutch attacking standpoint. After an underwhelming season in the Premier League, the former PSV man has provided the final third impetus that the Netherlands needed.
Having been deployed mostly from central areas at Anfield last term, Ronald Koeman has played him off the left and he looks like a completely different player. It would be a big surprise if the new Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, didn’t follow suit and allow the 25-year-old to operate from wide.
Gakpo has a knack for showing up in major tournaments. He scored in all of the Oranje’s group games at the World Cup in Qatar, and can improve on his three-goal tally in Germany by netting against Turkey.
The persistence he showed to provide the assist for the Netherlands’ second against Romania was also terrific, and if the Dutch are to break Turkey down, I expect it to come through Gakpo.
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