Romania vs Netherlands, EURO 2024 Highlights: NED through to the quarterfinals with 3-0 win; Donyell Malan and Cody Gakpo with the goals

Romania with a corner to the left. The wayward delivery still finds its way to one of the yellow shirts but they are unable to capitalize and the Dutch steal possession. Donyell Malan is on the run, cuts in to beat his tracker and buries in a low shot to make it 3-0. That does it! The referee calls it all settled in Munich and the Netherlands are through to the quarterfinals.

ROU 0-3 NED

Romania haven't really troubled the Dutch. There have been odd chances here and there, but nothing substantial. The fourth official indicates four minutes of added time and unless there's going to be an almighty miracle out there in Munich, this one seems to have been decided. 

ROU 0-2 NED

Here's a stat that tells something about these European Championships: Romania have conceded two goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half, no team has conceded more in Euro 2024.

Gakpo is taken off by Ronald Koeman, what an outing he's had. One goal, another one denied, and a lovely assist. Wout Weghorst is introduced into the fray. 

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DONYELL MALAN TAPS IT IN TO ALL BUT PUT NETHERLANDS INTO THE QUARTERFINALS.

Cody Gakpo with a sensational piece of resilience and footwork to keep the ball in on the left, wriggles his way past his marker and with the goalkeeper closing in and leaving his goal open, just toes it to Malan, who makes no mistake. 

ROU 0-2 NED

Dragusin has been immense for the Romanians this evening. Leaps to deny Depay a good chance in the air. 

Less than a minute later, the Dutch are on the counter again. Gakpo with the ball, he has Depay and Simmons in support to his left but he takes too long to lace his boots through it and his eventual shot is defleted over. 

ROU 0-1 NED

The Dutch looking to run the clock out but the referee isn't having it, Denzel Dumfries' time delaying tactics earn him a yellow. One that can prove costly for the Dutch later in the tournament, if they are to progress through. Romania have 14 minutes plus added time to pull one back in. 

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Joey Veerman, who's only been on field for less than five minutes has a chance to double the lead. He flashes his open-body right-footed effort just across the face from the left side!

ROU 0-1 NED 

Netherlands win a free kick in a promising position just outside the Romania box. Memphis Depay stands up to take it, goes low, goes to the keeper's right and just misses the far corner. There was no way Nita was keeping that out had it been on target. 

Meanwhile, Marius Marin gets in the referee's book. And Ronald Koeman makes a couple of changes. Micky van de Ven is on for Nathan Ake while Jerdy Schouten is replaced by Joey Veerman.

ROU 0-1 NED

Netherlands break through on another counter and this time, it's Cody Gakpo who has a go from outside the box. Nita makes a fine save diving to his right. Out for a corner. 

Doesn't take long for Gakpo to find himself in a position of promise, smashes it into the top corner from point blank range and the Dutch lead 2-0. 

Only they don't, the referee has checked with VAR for offside and it's been given. The subdued celebrations from Gakpo probably hinted it first. Just the one goal advantage it is, still.

ROU 0-1 NED

Nita makes a save amid offside shouts and Romania counter. Hagi has Dumfries on iceskates before Dragus' shot is blocked by Ake on the break. In the next phase, Ake concedes a corner on the right. Dumfries then improvises a clearance from the cross for another set-piece that Marin takes. Van Dijk clears firmly.

ROU 0-1 NED

Romania break through in numbers but Dennis Man, who cuts in from the right, gives away the ball cheaply and the Dutch outnumber the Romanians on counter - three to two. Xavi Simons initiates the move with a diagonal ball for Donyell Malan on the right. Depay and Gakpo in the middle but his low cross is easily kept out by Schouten. Another opportunity squandered. 

ROU 0-1 NED

Netherlands find space to create an opening from the right. Memphis Depay is located at the edge of the six yard box, his toe pock is blocked by Nita but the ball ricochets its way back to the Dutchman, who is unable to find a suitable connection to put the ball in the back of the net. It bounces off his abdomen and somehow, a sea of yellow shirts keep it out. One of those games where the margin doesn't do justice to the number of openings that have been created - at both ends. 

ROU 0-1 NED 

A neat little passage of play where Romania have made inroads deep into the Dutch half ends with Netherlands breaking through on counter. Reijnders, making a run through the central channel, decides to have a go at goal himself from the edge of the box but his shot is blocked just in time. 

ROU 0-1 NED

Collision between Stanciu and De Vrij and the Netherlands concede a free kick on the inside left, just outside their box. A real chance for Romania to find their way back into this game. The incoming, left footed delivery by Ianis Hagi is parried away Verbruggen. 

ROU 0-1 NED 

Netherlands make the only change at half-time. Donyell Malen comes on for Steven Bergjwin as we get underway with the second half in Munich. 

ROU 0-1 NED

Romania with a corner down left, Hagi with a left footed curling away delivery down the middle but the Dutch deal with it. And that is it for the first half as the referee blows the whistle for halftime. A Cody Gakpo goal is all that separates the two teams as of now. It could've been 2-0 but Xavi Simons was unable to put his boots into an easy picking in front of goal. 

ROU 0-1 NED

The fourth official displays three minutes to be added at the end of the first half. 

Dragus cuts in towards the Dutch goal from the left, wriggles through a sea of Dutch shirts before unleashing his shot, which is straight at Verbruggen. That's the first time Romania have threatened the Dutch goal in a while. 

ROU 0-1 NED

Ah, the Dutch could've been 2-0 there, easy. 

Denzel Dumfries breaks into the box on the inside-right channel and lays off a pass to Xavi Simons in front of the goal but the PSG wonderkid is unable to control the ball in time and his eventual shot - after four touches - is meek. A let off and then some for Romania. 

ROU 0-1 NED

The substitute is immediately spun by Memphis Depay, who picks out Simons at the byline. His rabona pull-back is put out for another Dutch corner, which the PSG man takes. Romania clear again. They're longing for the halftime whistle. 

ROU 0-1 NED

Memphis Depay makes a run into the Romanian box to meet a long ball, which he chests down but his marker scuffs it out in time. The game had started out as a pretty even affair but since the Gakpo goal, it's been all Netherlands in terms of ttacking third breaches.

Meanwhile substitution from Romania: Vasile Mogos is out of this one after taking a blow to his head, Bogdan Racovitan comes on.

ROU 0-1 NED

Dumfries and Mogos with a nasty bit of collision in the midfield and the Romanian seems to have coped the heavier blow. The Romanian medical staff is on and Mogos is off to receive treatment as it's a head injury and may need a few minutes before he gets up and running again. 

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DRAGUSIN WITH A BRAVEHEART PIECE OF DEFENDING!

The Dutch cut through the Romanian defensive lines as Dumfries is freed into the box on the inside-right and squares in a low cross but Dragusin slides in - dangerously - in front of his own goal and manages to deflect the ball away for a corner with Depay lurking in the middle to latch onto an easy tap in. 

ROU 0-1 NED

The Netherlands on a string of set pieces by the Romanian goal. That corner which gave them an opening is followed by a free kick and another corner to the right. This time though, the marking is better. 

ROU 0-1 NED

Netherlands win a corner to the left. Romania have been caught napping at the backpost as Stephen De Vrij, completely unmarked, meets the incoming delivery with a header but places it into the side netting. 

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And almost immediately, Stanciu flies down the left and pulls it back for Man. However, he scuffs his effort wide through the bodies and Verbruggen will restart. Romanian fans raising the spirits of their players. This one is not going one way. 

ROU 0-1 NED

NETHERLANDS OPEN THE SCORING, CODY GAKPO!

Just the kind of goal the Dutch needed to put the Romanians in their shell a little. Cody Gakpo cuts in from the left and unleashes a low, fierce curling shot at the near post. Really put his muscles into it. Third goal for him at these Euros. Nita was taken aback in the goal there. 

ROU 0-1 NED

Memphis Depay looking to work something out. Dribbles in from the right and sends a shot flashing across the face of goal that whistles just over the bar. That was an excellent effort by the Romanian winger and he had Bart Vergruggen beaten.

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Romania see a brilliant pass and run take form as they carve the Netherlands open. Dragus just gets it caught under his feet and the Dutch clear. Dennis Man surges on again and cuts in before floating one with his left-foot just over the bar!

ROU 0-0 NED

First one-on-one confrontation in front of goal. Memphis Depay makes a run into the six yard box, Steven Bergwijn finds him. A left footed finish but the Romania number one has covered it well and deflects it away. It wouldn't have counted had Depay found the target for the linesman has his flag up. 

ROU 0-0 NED

Virgil Van Dijk picks out Simons with a ball down the left. The RB Leipzig winger cuts inside and has a pop and his shot takes a little deflection off Andre Ratiu before sailing into the arms of Romania goalkeeper Florin Nita.

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Quite a pace has been set here already. A rapid phase is ended with a foul on Depay in the centre, yet Dumfries had to clear quickly! Marin crossed superbly from the right. Hagi is now down with blood flowing from his head. It looked like a Dumfries elbow caught him while clearing the ball. The Romanians, who are outnumbering the Dutch fans 3-1, are in tune as their icon's son receives treatment. 

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Ianis Hagi making inroads from the right as Romania put early pressure on the Dutch. They've been relentless in their attacking approach. Ronald Koeman and Co will have to pick themselves up from that group stage. 

A bit of trivia meanwhile, Ianis is the son of Gheorghe Hagi, the attacking midfielder from Romania who is considered among the pioneers of the world game in the late 20th century. He's in attendance today in Munich for the big contest.

ROU 0-0 NED

Netherlands get us underway, wearing their navy blue colors, kicking from left to right. The Romanians are donning their home colors - all yellow. 

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Exhilarating atmosphere at the Allianz Arena as the two sets of players walk into the middle followed by the national anthems being sung in unison. An excellent turnout from both camps by the sound of it. Kickoff time!

A critical moment in the contest between Portugal and Slovenia came late in the first half of the extra time when Cristiano Ronaldo was denied from the penalty spot by Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak. Shortly after, the Portuguese captain was seen in tears as the team huddled ahead of the second half of the extra time.

Opening up on his emotions, Ronaldo conceded afterwards, "Even the strongest people have their bad days. I was at rock bottom when the team needed me most. I was sad at first but now I’m happy. That’s what football is. Moments, inexplicable moments." (MORE HERE)

“It is, without doubt, my last European Championship. But I’m not emotional about that. I’m moved by all that football means — by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me,” Ronaldo said after Portugal scraped past Slovenia to the quarterfinal after a 3-0 win on penalties. (READ MORE)

Even four hours before kickoff and the Dutch were already getting LOUD! ??? pic.twitter.com/vQpwM4lyWz

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2024

France vs Belgium: Jan Vertonghen conceded an own goal off a scuffed shot from Randal Kolo Muani late in the second half to hand France a 1-0 win and a ticket to the quarterfinals in Euro 2024 as Belgium were knocked out off the tournament in the Round of 16. In a cagey affair in Dusseldorf, the French had more possession of the ball and in the end inched past their arch rivals with just the one goal, as they had in their last meeting at a major tournament – the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinal. (HIGHLIGHTS HERE)

Portugal vs Slovenia: Cristiano Ronaldo scored in the penalty shootout after missing a penalty in Extra Time as Portugal won 3-0 on penalties after being held goalless for 120 minutes by a resolute Slovenia defence. Diogo Costa was the man of the moment as he saved back to back three penalties in the shootout as Slovenia choked right when it matters. Portugal will now go to the quarterfinal to face France. (HIGHLIGHTS HERE)

Matches: 14 

Netherlands: 10

Romania: 1

Draw: 3

Romania XI: Nita; Ratiu, Dragusin, Burca, Mogos; M.Marin, R.Marin, Stanciu; Man, Hagi, Dragus

Subs: Moldovan, Târnovanu, Rus, Nedelcearu, Alibec, Cicâld?u, Pu?ca?, Mih?il?, Olaru, Sorescu, Racovi?an, Bîrligea, ?ut

Netherlands XI: Verbruggen, Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Aké, Schouten, Reijnders, Simons, Gakpo, Bergwijn, Memphis

Subs: Bijlow, Flekken, Geertruida, De Ligt, Wijnaldum, Weghorst, Frimpong, Van de Ven, Veerman, Blind, Malen, Brobbey, Maatsen, Zirkzee, Gravenberch

The final day of Euro 2024 Round of 16 is here! Six quarterfinalists sorted, two spots left for the taking. And the first shall be contested between Romania and Netherlands. 

The 1988 winners had been foreseen as dark horses - when are they not - ahead of this football summer but have had an underwhelming road to the knockouts. A slender 2-1 win against Poland, a bland 0-0 draw against the French, and a 3-2 loss at the hands of Austria saw them finish third in their group. 

Romania on the other hand, had as many points (4) but finished at the top of their group. Playing in their sixth Euros, it is only the second time that Romania have made it to the knockouts. Their best outing previously was in Euro 2020 when they reached he quarterfinals, losing 2-0 to Italy.

So, what will it be today? Netherlands making a strong comeback or will the underdogs script a fairytale. Live updates coming your way.