Sabasports Match Preview
Euro 2024: Netherlands vs Turkey
Kickoff Time: 2024-07-07 03:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/Fiona Noever
This is the quarter-finals of the 2024 European Championship. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, there will be 30-minute Extra Time. If it is still tied after Extra Time, a penalty shootout will take place.
A strong team needs to excel in high-position pressing, precise passing and control, as well as fast attacking. Netherlands possess these characteristics. Head coach Ronald Koeman has built them with the idea of “creating more opportunities through midfield play”. Netherlands’ strong central defenders, including goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, are adept at playing the ball under control. During matches, they gradually push the defensive line closer to the center circle, allowing the central defenders to spread out and add more width to their offensive formation. Netherlands display excellent coordination and rely on their midfielders’ ability to make forward runs, both with and without the ball, constantly creating problems for the opposition’s defense. The core of this tactic lies in Tijjani Reijnders’ ability to control the midfield and effectively link up with the wingers. This strategy makes Netherlands a strong contender for the championship.
Turkey are the biggest “dark horse” in this tournament. In the Round of 16, they unexpectedly eliminated Austria with a 2-1 victory. During the match, Turkey scored their goals through two set-piece attacks, which was not a coincidence. In the qualifying stage, 10 out of Turkey’s 14 goals came from set pieces, penalty kicks and long-range shots. This indicates that Turkey’s offensive tactics are relatively straightforward and rely heavily on wingers to make breakthroughs. Despite reaching the quarter-finals, Turkey have paid a big price. Two midfielders, Ismail Yuksek and Orkun Kokcu, are suspended, leaving them to reorganize. What’s worse, Merih Demiral, the goal scorer in the previous round, is being investigated by UEFA due to improper celebration gestures, which may impact his preparations. Under the guidance of Italian coach Vincenzo Montella, Turkey have displayed solid defense and lethal counterattacks. It is expected that this game will be based on a defensive approach to compete against Netherlands.
Netherlands’ forwards pose a significant threat with their quick counterattacks, so Turkey must maintain composure in key positions to avoid making costly mistakes. Considering the group stage performances so far, Turkey’s left-back Ferdi Kadioglu ranks second in terms of the number of successful physical confrontations with 28. It is estimated that Netherlands will focus on Turkey’s right wing, where Cody Gakpo will be positioned. Gakpo is the most consistent source of goals in Netherlands and is even considered a contender for the Golden Boot. It is believed that the Netherlands will utilize Gakpo’s impact to outmaneuver Turkey.
Netherlands’ Last 5 Games: WLDWW
24-07-03 Romania 0-3 Netherlands
24-06-26 Netherlands 2-3 Austria
24-06-22 Netherlands 0-0 France
24-06-16 Poland 1-2 Netherlands
24-06-11 Netherlands 4-0 Iceland
Turkey’s Last 5 Games: WWLWL
24-07-03 Austria 1-2 Turkey
24-06-27 Czechia 1-2 Turkey
24-06-23 Turkey 0-3 Portugal
24-06-19 Turkey 3-1 Georgia
24-06-11 Poland 2-1 Turkey
Head To Head Record:
21-09-08 Netherlands 6-1 Turkey
21-03-25 Turkey 4-2 Netherlands
15-09-06 Turkey 3-0 Netherlands
15-03-29 Netherlands 1-1 Turkey
13-10-16 Turkey 0-2 Netherlands
Prediction: Netherlands to win