Have the Dutch emerged as Euro 2024 contenders?

The Netherlands were written disconnected by immoderate aft a disappointing group run astatine Euro 2024 - but should they now beryllium considered contenders?

A poor 3-2 conclusion by Austria meant nan Netherlands only scraped done to nan past 16 arsenic 1 of nan third-placed teams, but nan Dutch, classed seventh successful nan world, responded pinch a thumping 3-0 triumph complete Romania connected Tuesday.

A quarter-final against Turkey awaits and they person avoided immoderate European giants successful their broadside of nan draw.

"Of course, we are present pinch 1 ngo and that is to triumph nan Euros," said Dutch defender Denzel Dumfries.

"We person a beardown squad pinch beardown qualities. From nan opening we were focused and we don't suffer our focus. The bigger image is clear."

After a beardown extremity to their qualifying run and nan return of injured players, location was increasing optimism successful nan Netherlands earlier Euro 2024.

Manager Ronald Koeman had an array of talent to prime from and players for illustration Jeremie Frimpong, Nathan Ake and Virgil van Dijk had bully seasons pinch their clubs.

But nan temper dropped very quickly arsenic they stumbled done nan group stages, needing a precocious victor against Poland, drafting pinch France and losing to Austria.

A protect illness successful their nonaccomplishment to Austria - pinch prima skipper Van Dijk astatine responsibility - led to wide disapproval from nan likes of erstwhile internationals including Marco van Basten and Rafael van der Vaart connected Dutch TV.

Koeman did not look to person recovered his champion XI and Van Dijk's passion was questioned by Van der Vaart.

"The crippled against Austria was a spot of a wake-up up call," erstwhile Dutch winger Bolo Zenden told BBC Sport.

"I don't deliberation they played peculiarly well. We knew really Austria would play but it seemed they were amazed by it. That was strange. I thought they would beryllium prepared.

"They had immoderate talks internally and put things straight. It paid disconnected against Romania. They played coagulated and created a batch of chances. The assurance is wholly back."

Dutch instrumentality Thomas, who has been supporting nan squad successful Germany, said nan "only measurement is up" now.

"There's ever a chance we tin spell each nan way," said Thomas. "Van Dijk is still our strongest defender. He is 1 of nan champion successful nan world and a awesome leader. He had a bad crippled against Austria but that's it."

Former Netherlands defender Mario Melchiot told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We were stronger and stood up good against Romania. This is nan first crippled wherever everyone successful nan federation said they played well."

For many, hopes of progression will remainder connected nan shoulders of Liverpool skipper Van Dijk.

A cleanable expanse against Austria went immoderate measurement towards silencing his critics - but Van Dijk is not nan only 1 being questioned, pinch head Koeman besides nether nan spotlight.

"The head ever gets nan astir disapproval erstwhile nan squad is not performing," said Zenden.

"With nan Dutch, you tin suffer a crippled but do it by playing successful a definite style of shot and assurance that reflects america - and that was lacking. That is why Koeman sewage criticism.

"The likes of Van Dijk sewage disapproval because he was evidently not successful nan correct position erstwhile nan Dutch conceded those goals against Austria.

"That's not what we expect from him because he plays astatine specified a precocious level for Liverpool and truthful consistently. It was evident he made mistakes."

But erstwhile defender Melchiot believes nan Dutch sewage nan champion retired of Van Dijk against Romania arsenic he was "left to do his job".

"When he plays for Liverpool we cannot uncertainty his expertise because of nan measurement he has played, you cannot mobility it," added Melchiot.

"He is simply a defender and that's what he is bully astatine – defending, playing elemental balls and conscionable doing his job. At Holland, they expect much than that.

"That sometimes goes against him because they expect him to group nan tempo, lead nan backline, play passes retired from nan back, etc, but past his attraction mightiness go.

"The measurement they played against Romania was amended for him because nan midfielders picked up nan shot truthful he could conscionable attraction connected his job. He plays wholly different for Holland than Liverpool."

Despite immoderate struggles, location person been plentifulness of positives. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen has received praise, while Cody Gakpo is nan tournament's joint-top scorer pinch 3 goals and 1 assist.

Across nan past 2 awesome tournaments, nan only European subordinate pinch much goals than Gakpo (six successful 9 games) is France's Kylian Mbappe (nine successful 10 games).

"Cody has been playing astatine a precocious modular for nan past 4 years astatine least. I spot him each time and nan difficult activity that he puts in," said Van Dijk.

"He conscionable keeps improving. He doesn't interest astir criticism. He is very important for america and he conscionable needs to enactment for illustration that and return that responsibility."

A batch tin alteration successful a tournament.

The Netherlands are nan only third-placed squad from nan group shape to advancement to nan quarter-finals.

Seeing disconnected Romania gave them a first knockout triumph astatine a Euros since 2004, and they want more.

Belief has returned and Zenden says "the sun is sparkling now" for nan Oranje aft receiving "a lifeline" pinch nan draw.

While Germany were knocked retired by Spain and Portugal mislaid to France connected Friday, nan Netherlands would look Switzerland aliases England successful nan semi-finals should they hit Turkey connected Saturday.

"Usually if you decorativeness 3rd successful nan group stages you are home. Now, each of a sudden, you person this lifeline. That’s why group are talking astir nan Dutch," said Zenden.

"Instead of facing Germany, France, Spain aliases Portugal, they play Turkey. It will not beryllium easy, but if nan Dutch had to play others past of people group would look otherwise astatine their chances.

"Now group are saying nan Dutch tin spell each nan way."