What we learned from Netherlands vs Türkiye

Netherlands faced Türkiye in the quarter-finals of the Euro’s, with the winner facing a confusing England side. Türkiye arguably came into the game as the ‘form side’ out of the two, with Netherlands failing to impress in the build-up to the quarters.

However, Netherlands managed to see off Türkiye and come away 2-1 winners, with the Dutch’s two goals coming after the 70th minute.

The question is what we can take from the match. Here is what we learned from both sides:

🟠 Netherlands digging deep 💪#EURO2024 | #NEDTUR pic.twitter.com/kd6StfG30J

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 6, 2024

Netherlands have fight in them

After their final group game against Austria, nobody would have seen the Netherlands as a threat. They scraped through the group stages in third place, losing the final matchday 3-2 to Austria. However, the loss against Austria may have helped them, as finishing third saw them in the ‘favourable’ side of the knockout stages.

A dominating 3-0 win against Romania in the round of 16 could have been just a one-off, as it was their first good display of the tournament, however their late display against Türkiye may have topped it.

Netherlands came from behind in their opening game against Poland to win; and also twice against Austria, however still losing late on. This time around against Türkiye, it seemed inevitable that Ronald Koeman’s side would get back into the game. The half-time substitution of Wout Weghorst for Steven Bergwijn proved to support the Dutch cause, as they piled on the pressure from the second half whistle.

A towering Stefan de Vrij header and a Mert Muldur own goal turned the game around in a six-minute spell; then the Dutch managed to dig deep and hold on to the win, thanks to some brilliant defending from Micky van de Ven and Bart Verbruggen in goal.

BART VERBRUGGEN!!!#NothingLikeOranje #NEDTUR pic.twitter.com/sMJSmmtO8w

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) July 6, 2024

The match overall showed both sides of this Netherlands team, with the first half being their weaker side, and then the second half having that persistent threat, along with some excellent defending. They stood tall in the second half and proved that they can battle and fight; not just lay down easily.

Türkiye have talent

A Real Madrid youngster is going to be a superstar is a sentence said about many, however Guler could be a cut above most.

Although Guler’s Euro’s is over, he ends the tournament with two assists, and a goal which nobody will forget that saw it live. Guler was one of the sparks of the tournament, he gave everyone the feeling that he can carry the Türkiye side on his back, even at just 19 years old.

But not only Guler shone for Türkiye, Ferdi Kadioglu will have clubs all across Europe looming at him.

The 24-year-old Fenerbahçe left back had a fantastic tournament. A unique footballer, who is right footed playing left back, persistently made marauding runs through the opposition midfield before finding his teammate, but perhaps most impressively, could complete these runs from the first minute until the last.

🚨🇹🇷 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 | Brighton are interested in Ferdi Kadıoğlu (24) from Fenerbahçe!

They have made official contact and asked about his situation, reports @yagosabuncuoglu. 🔵✨ pic.twitter.com/b4Ko1Cvh0S

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) July 7, 2024

Mert Gunok made one of the most remarkable saves I can remember, against Austria, when in the last minute he seemed to claw the ball wide. Merih Demiral also impressed in his two starts, scoring twice against Austria; perhaps Türkiye could have held on if he was not suspended.

Türkiye were one of the teams of the tournament, and a horror showing such as the one in Euro 2021 seems like a lifetime ago.