The Netherlands scored two second-half goals in seven minutes to come from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday and set up a Euro 2024 semi-final clash with England.
Samet Akaydin sent Turkey ahead in the first half but Stefan de Vrij headed the Netherlands level and Murt Muldur turned into his own net under pressure from Cody Gakpo after 76 minutes to hand the Dutch victory.
The build-up to the quarter-final clash in Berlin was overshadowed by a diplomatic row between Turkey and Germany after their last-16 hero Merih Demiral was banned for two matches for making a controversial salute.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the match at the Olympiastadion as a result, along with tens of thousands of fans who greeted every sustained Dutch period of possession with a barrage of whistles.
Netherlands overcame the pressure from the stands and Turkey’s energetic style, as well as a flurry of late chances, to reach the Euros semi-finals for the first time since 2004.
Spain’s Pedri out of Euro 2024 over knee injury
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk said: “We had to dig very deep and I am proud of these guys.
“We made a very good start in my eyes but we got sloppy and lost balls at dangerous moments. Then we had to try and stay calm and take advantage of the chances that were going to come.
“We want to fulfil our dream and we are one step closer.”
In Saturday’s other quarter-final game, England defeated Switzerland 5-3 on penalties to book their place in the semi-finals.
Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka was England’s saviour in Duesseldorf as his stunning 80th-minute equaliser kept England in the tournament just as they looked set to limp out early.
After the 120 minutes finished level at 1-1, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was the Three Lions’ hero in the shoot-out as he saved Switzerland’s first spot-kick from Manuel Akanji.
Saka, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold converted their penalties to send England into a semi-final meeting with the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday, July 10.
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