EURO 2024

2024-07-02T17:55:04Z

Xavi and Malen help Dutch into Euro 2024 quarters

Donyell Malen (l.) and Xavi Simons were instrumental in taking the Netherlands into the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-finals.
Donyell Malen (l.) and Xavi Simons were instrumental in taking the Netherlands into the UEFA EURO 2024 quarter-finals.

RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons teed up two goals and Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen scored a late brace as the Netherlands defeated Romania 3-0 in Munich on Tuesday to progress to the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

Romania 0-3 Netherlands
Goals: 0-1
Gakpo 20’ (assist: Xavi), 0-2 Malen 83' (assist: Gakpo), 0-3 Malen 90+3' (assist: Xavi)

Romania had beaten the Dutch only once in 14 previous meetings, but they started with real confidence in Munich. They failed to capitalise, however, and their opponents soon showed them what a cutting edge looks like: Xavi surging forward and finding Cody Gakpo on the left before the Liverpool forward cut inside and fired in a stylish opener. Stefan De Vrij and Memphis Depay could have added to the scoreline before the break and Leipzig's Xavi shot wide as Romania had no answer to the greater individual and collective quality of Ronald Koeman's side at the Allianz Arena. Dortmund forward Malen came off the bench at the break, and could not quite find the net with a header early in the second half after connecting with a Depay cross as the Dutch picked up where they had left off. Virgil van Dijk headed against a post, Gakpo had a second ruled out for offside and Depay went close with a clever, low free-kick before De Oranje finally got the second goal their play had deserved: BVB's Malen tapping in from close range to make the closing minutes less nervy. He then grabbed another in added time as the Dutch progressed to Saturday's quarter-final in Berlin where they will face  Türkiye following their win over Austria.

Watch: All of Donyell Malen's 2023/24 Bundesliga goals & assists

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