European Championship Quarter Final: Netherlands – Turkey

An unbelievable clash to kick off the quarter-finals this Saturday at 18.00. The Netherlands and Turkey are set to face off at Berlin’s iconic Olympiastadion in what many believe should have been the final, as these two sides are among the best performing teams in the tournament so far. The Netherlands impressed with strong victories over Poland and Romania, while Turkey showcased their prowess with thrilling wins against Georgia and Austria.

Netherlands Team News

Ronald Koeman looks like he has found his favorite starting 11 settling well into the tournament. This probably means that Steven Bergwijn, if fit, will start; otherwise, Jeremie Frimpong or Donyell Malen might take his place. Bart Verbruggen is expected to continue in goal, with Virgil van Dijk captaining the side from center-back. Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay are sure to start up front, providing a potent attacking threat. Ian Maatsen, who has been ill, might miss the match, while Jerdy Schouten, who had some muscular stiffness, should be passed fit to play.

Turkey Team News

Turkey will have influential skipper Hakan Calhanoglu back after his suspension, but they will miss Orkun Kokcu and Ismail Yuksek due to their own suspensions. Merih Demiral, who received a two-game ban for his controversial celebration, will also be out. Fenerbahce defender Samet Akaydin is expected to fill in for Demiral, alongside Galatasaray’s Abdulkerim Bardakci. Discipline has been an issue for Turkey, with 18 yellow cards in the tournament so far. Vincenzo Montella will need to carefully manage his players, with several at risk of missing a potential semi-final due to bookings.

Netherlands Form

The Netherlands are in fine form this tournament. The Oranje have won their last match convincingly against Romania, following a victory over Poland and a stalemate with France. Their only setback was an eventful 3-2 defeat to Austria. The team has shown they can dominate games, as seen with their 3-0 victory over Romania, where they had a record 50 touches inside the Romanian area.

Turkey Form

Turkey started the tournament with a thrilling 3-1 win over Georgia, followed by a dismal defeat to Portugal, and a late victory over the Czech Republic. In their last-16 match against Austria, Turkey was impressive, especially with Mert Gunok’s incredible last-gasp save. Turkey’s attacking play, combined with some moments of defensive vulnerability, makes them a dangerous opponent.

What do the stats say?

• The Netherlands have progressed from five of their past seven quarter-finals in major tournaments.
• Turkey’s tally of 18 yellow cards at Euro 2024 is second only to the Czech Republic’s beaten finalists of 1996 in European Championship history.
• The Netherlands and Turkey met twice in qualifying for Qatar 2022, with each nation winning their home fixture.

Our Verdict

What an exciting game up ahead as arguably two of the best playing teams will play each other in the quarter-final on Saturday. Both teams are known for their positive attacking style of play and will be looking to dominate the other team. It will be very interesting to see which team will prove to be more powerful. It will be difficult to choose a winner here, but we lean towards the Netherlands as they have the firepower to take advantage of Turkey’s sometimes shaky defense. Additionally, the Dutch seem to be finding their rhythm just in time for this crucial match.