Netherlands player ratings vs Turkey: It’s the Dutch for England in Dortmund! Cody Gakpo again leads the Oranje into Euro 2024 semi-final

The Liverpool forward forced the decisive own goal from Mert Muldur as Ronald Koeman’s side came from behind to secure victory

The Netherlands broke Turkey’s hearts at Euro 2024 as Ronald Koeman’s side came from behind in Berlin to secure a 2-1 quarter-final victory and set up a semi with England on Wednesday.

Despite a bright start, the Dutch began to lose a bit of impetus as the first half wore on, and fell behind when Samet Akaydin headed home Arda Guler’s searching cross at the back post. Guler almost made it 2-0 early in the second half, too, but saw his free-kick tipped onto the post by Bart Verbruggen.

Eventually the Netherlands began to exert some dominance as they chased the game, and Stefan de Vrij drew them level with a thumping header from Memphis Depay’s cross. And within five minutes they were ahead, as Mert Muldur turned Denzel Dumfries’ low centre into his own goal as he came under pressure from Cody Gakpo.

Turkey pushed for an equaliser, and substitute Micky van de Ven made a heroic goal-line clearance from Zeki Celik and Verbruggen denied Semih Kilicsoy from point-blank range as the Dutch held on to book a trip to Dortmund later this week.

GOAL rates the Netherlands’ players from the Olympiastadion…

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• • Goalkeeper & Defence

    Bart Verbruggen (7/10):

    Caught in no-man’s land for Turkey’s opener as Guler’s cross drifted over his head. Did get across well to tip the Real Madrid teenager’s free-kick onto the post, though, before his superb reaction save in stoppage-time sealed victory.

    Denzel Dumfries (6/10):

    A non-factor in attack and liability defensively for the first 70 minutes. Came to life thereafter, as his cross led to the own goal before he made some massive late blocks and challenges.

    Stefan de Vrij (7/10):

    Towering header got the Dutch back on level terms. The most solid of the two centre-backs defensively, too.

    Virgil van Dijk (4/10):

    Shaken by Yilmaz’s relentlessness to the point he was booked for a foul on the forward. Far from his usual dominant self.

    Nathan Ake (6/10):

    Took a booking to deny Turkey a shot on goal. Rarely lets his team down, even if he is an unspectacular performer.

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  Midfield

  Jerdy Schouten (5/10):

  Neat and tidy in possession but he lacks any kind of incisiveness in his passing. Highlights how much De Jong is missed.

  Tijjani Reijnders (6/10):

  Regularly broke lines with his ball-carrying, though he did run down a couple of blind allies. Another decent showing from the AC Milan man.

  Xavi Simons (3/10):

  Got himself into good positions and pockets of space, but did little with the opportunity to create for his team-mates. Booked in the first half, too.
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  Attack

  Steven Bergwijn (4/10):

  Couldn’t really get into the game down the right-hand side. Wasn’t a surprise when he was replaced by Weghorst at half-time.

  Memphis Depay (6/10):

  Some nice touches with his back to goal, but the mercurial forward lacked cutting edge in front of goal once more. Excellent cross led to De Vrij’s equaliser.

  Cody Gakpo (7/10):

  Couldn’t make anything happen in the first half, but was encouraged to stay wider after Weghorst’s introduction at break, and he had more joy looking to go down the outside. Forced Muldur’s own goal by ghosting in at the back post.

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  Subs & Manager

  Wout Weghorst (7/10):

  Gave the Dutch a real presence up front after being introduced at half-time. His most key intervention, though, came when he made a brilliant clearance to keep Turkey from going 2-0 up.

  Joey Veerman (6/10):

  Replaced Reijnders and kept the Dutch ticking over in the final 20 minutes.

  Micky van de Ven (7/10):

  Match-winning clearance off the line denied Celik a late equaliser.

  Jeremie Frimpong (N/A):

  Chucked on for the final five minutes.

  Joshua Zirkzee (N/A):

  Made his first appearance of the tournament late on.

  Ronald Koeman (6/10):

  His team was too predictable in the first half as he named an unchanged line up from the win over Romania, but his decision to put Weghorst on at half-time was the catalyst for his side’s comeback.

  Source goal.com