The Netherlands completed a stunning turnaround on Saturday to beat plucky Turkey 2-1 as a Mert Muldur own goal sent them through to face England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.
The Dutch, having laboured through a poor first-half performance in Belgrade, gain ed control after halftime and although that own goal from the defender piled on pressure for about quarter of an hour with 15 minutes remaining but ultimately bouncing back to power their way into thr final four line-up.
Samet Akaydin had headed Turkey into a 1-0 halftime lead before Stefan de Vrij levelled for the visitors six minutes later.
Turkey surfed on a sea of vocal support at the Olympiastadion to put themselves well within touching distance of an improbable semi-final spot only for them, after keeping the Dutch out all night long, to crack under relentless pressure in the last 20 minutes.
The Dutch will play against England in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while France and Spain meet for a place in the final.
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman said: “We knew it was going to be tough so I’m really pleased that we made is through.
Smith continued: “That’s a win in that we were probably the better team but it is also one by showing fighting spirit and certainly not giving up.
Definitely more fireworks, but a winner in regulation — the only one of this weekend’s quarter-finals to do so.
Turkey then opened the scoring after Dutch fullback Denzel Dumfries let a shot, having deflected clearly off Nathan Ake’s shoulder in his view, go out for a corner-end that he could easily keep away.
The resulting set piece was half-cleared and dropped for 16-year-old Arda Guler to send in a delightful delivery from the right wing, which Akaydin rose highest out of three Turkish figures vying at the back post to head into an unguarded net.
