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Rabat – The Euro 2024 quarterfinals heat up with a clash between Netherlands and Turkey at Berlin’s Olympiastadion on Saturday.
The winner will book a place in the final four, potentially facing Switzerland or England, and both sides enter the match with contrasting emotions but similar ambitions.
Despite a shaky group stage showing, the Dutch are safely in the knockout rounds. After a third-place finish in Group D, manager Ronald Koeman’s men dispatched Romania 3-0 in the last-16.
Koeman, a member of the Netherlands’ only major men’s trophy win – the 1988 Euros – is aiming to repeat history.
Meanwhile, Turkey has surprised many. Their knockout Euro renaissance began with a bang – a goal in the opening seconds of their last-16 tie against Austria.
Merih Demiral, a center-back, even doubled his entire international goal tally in the match. However, Austria fought back, and only a stunning late save by goalkeeper Mert Gunok secured victory.
The win came despite the absence of captain Hakan Calhanoglu due to suspension. The team’s rising stars Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz ran the round of 16 show in the absence of the commanding Calhanoglu.
But Turkey now faces a selection headache with further suspensions and players on yellow cards risking a semi-final ban.
This isn’t unfamiliar territory for these sides. They split their World Cup qualifying encounters last year, each winning on home soil.
With Turkey reaching the Euros final four only once before, they’ll be eager to create more history.
This clash promises another exciting encounter for neutral fans, with both teams aiming to defy expectations and book their place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
