Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk said the Netherlands are getting closer to fulfilling their dream of lifting the Euro 2024 trophy in Germany after beating Turkey in the quarter-finals.
England stay in Germany for a semi-final on Wednesday in Dortmund against the Netherlands, who came from a goal down to beat Turkey 2-1 in Berlin in Saturday’s other quarter-final.
Samet Akaydin sent Turkey ahead in the first half, heading in from Arda Guler’s cross on 35 minutes. But the Netherlands kept their cool in a hostile atmosphere and equalised 20 minutes from the end as Stefan de Vrij met Memphis Depay’s cross to score with a towering header.
The Dutch then won it six minutes later when Mert Muldur bundled a low Denzel Dumfries cross into his own net under pressure from Cody Gakpo. That was enough for the Netherlands, who won the Euros in West Germany in 1988, to advance to a first semi-final at the tournament since 2004.
“Tonight we had to dig very deep and I am proud of these guys,” captain Virgil van Dijk told broadcaster ‘NOS’. “We want to fulfil our dream and we are one step closer.”
Spain and France meet in the first semi-final in Munich on Tuesday, with the winners of the two last-four ties advancing to the final in Berlin next Sunday.