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Cody Gakpo stated the Netherlands’ efficiency towards Romania represented the best reply to media criticism as they booked their place within the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Gakpo opened the scoring because the Oranje ran out 3-0 winners in Tuesday’s last-16 tie, with Donyell Malen coming off the bench so as to add two extra objectives within the latter phases.
The Liverpool man has now scored six objectives on the final two main tournaments, with Kylian Mbappe (9 objectives) the one European to higher that tally throughout the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
He’s additionally certainly one of simply three gamers to web three or extra objectives in two separate tournaments for the Oranje, after Johnny Rep (1974 and 1978 World Cups) and Dennis Bergkamp (Euro 1992, 1994 and 1998 World Cups).
The Netherlands have been fiercely criticised by the media at house after ending third in Group D, and Gakpo was conscious of the necessity to reply emphatically.
“This was the reply we needed to our final efficiency – we had recreation, scored good objectives, we performed good soccer,” Gakpo stated.
“In fact we may do higher, nevertheless it was exhibiting after the final recreation. A great step in that subsequent course.
“We felt we have been in management though they have been a harmful opponent. We by no means had the sensation that we might lose management of the sport.”
Cody Gakpo is now joint-top scorer at Euro 2024 with three objectives.
Of European gamers, solely Kylian Mbappé (9 in 10 video games) has scored extra objectives throughout the final two main tournaments (2022 World Cup and Euro 2024) than Gakpo (6 in 9 video games).#ROUNED #Euro2024 pic.twitter.com/KCYNDiYPk2
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 2, 2024
Virgil van Dijk was among the many Oranje gamers to see his group-stage performances slated, and he was equally pleased with the group’s response on Tuesday.
“We have been defensively sound and stable and didn’t hand over a lot,” Van Dijk stated. “We may have scored much more.
“After a turbulent week, the place so much was stated, we needed to present one thing and we did that. We’re self-critical and we knew it needed to be so much higher after the final recreation.
“Everybody went for the duels, gained the second balls and took possibilities. Taking part in good soccer provides us self-confidence.”
The Netherlands have progressed from a European Championship knockout match for the primary time since 2004, after they beat Sweden on penalties after a goalless draw.
Excluding penalties, it’s their first win in a knockout recreation since they thrashed Yugoslavia 6-1 in 2000 – the largest margin of victory ever recorded on the event.