Ronald Koeman expressed his immense satisfaction after guiding the Netherlands to the semifinals of the European Championship. The national coach acknowledged areas for improvement in Oranje’s play but was primarily proud of how his team secured the 2-1 victory.
“It was a tough match. I’m very happy that we won,” Koeman said to NOS cameras after the game. “We started well and Memphis Depay could have put us ahead early. Then we became careless, and the Turks realized there was something to be gained. And it wasn’t just enthusiasm; there was quite some quality on the field.”
Strength
“The goal came because we didn’t maintain our line at the back,” the coach continued. “This meant they weren’t offside. Such a goal is, of course, their strength.”
The expectation that Turkey would retreat more in the second half proved true. This made the introduction of Wout Weghorst a smart move. “It immediately created dangerous moments and ultimately led to great goals. We stayed strong afterwards. Of course, we had some luck. But in the past, we haven’t shown up in such moments. Now we did, and that’s something to be proud of.”
Semifinals
Koeman is aware that Oranje has so far avoided the ‘big’ nations in the knockout stages. “Of course, I’m aware of that. But look at the other results in this tournament. The differences are small. We can be proud that we’ve reached the semifinals. This is more than good, but the mission is not yet accomplished.”
On Wednesday, England awaits as the opponent in the semifinals. “It’s great that we’re now meeting such a good team. Moreover, it’s special that we play in that enormous stadium in Dortmund. Close to home, too. That will surely bring many fans.”
4o