Time to 'stand up and take notice' as Dutch find 'spark'

Whether marching done nan streets of German cities successful their thousands, aliases turning stadiums and instrumentality zones orange, nan Dutch fans person delivered astatine Euro 2024.

Now it seems their squad has too.

A dreadful capacity successful a 3-2 conclusion against Austria successful their last group crippled - wherever they could not lucifer nan pressing and strength of their opponents - near their fans fearing their European Championship would soon beryllium over.

But, against a spirited and fearless Romania, they produced nan benignant of capacity their supporters had been hoping to spot arsenic a 3-0 victory sent them into nan quarter-finals.

Two of nan goals came precocious successful nan game, scored by half-time substitute Donyell Malen, but they should person been comfortably clear good earlier then, having missed galore chances aft Cody Gakpo's first-half opener.

But this was much astir nan capacity arsenic a full arsenic nan Netherlands played precocious tempo, fast-paced attacking shot that had their fans dancing and partying into nan nighttime successful Munich.

"Welcome to nan tournament," said erstwhile Premier League goalkeeper Paul Robinson connected BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Stand up and return notice, everybody. Harsh for Romania, but nan Dutch wholly outclassed them."

The capacity successful Munich, much than nan result, will interest nan Netherlands' Euro 2024 rivals.

If they tin build connected this display, and get done nan adjacent information too, they will look a semi-final against England aliases Switzerland.

"That mightiness conscionable beryllium nan capacity that gives them assurance that they tin really spell connected and triumph it," erstwhile England striker Alan Shearer said connected BBC One.

"That could beryllium nan capacity that gives them that edge."

Ex-England defender Alex Scott said nan Dutch "had a spark and a different energy", while erstwhile Wales skipper Ashley Williams was besides impressed, saying: "They had nan complete performance.

"You can't telephone thing successful this tourney but I deliberation they will beryllium really assured now."

Key to nan triumph was nan first-half extremity by Gakpo, making him joint-top scorer successful Germany arsenic he continued his fantabulous shape astatine awesome world tournaments.

In 10 games astatine World Cups and European Championships, he has scored six goals.

The Netherlands, successful their first Euro quarter-final since 2008, request 3 much wins to emulate nan European champions of 1988.

"It is tons of memories but now we are present pinch this squad and trying to create memories of our own," Gakpo said.

Netherlands leader Ronald Koeman, who played successful nan triumphant 1988 side, looked acold happier successful nan post-match news convention than he did aft nan Austria nonaccomplishment and was keen to accent nan value of this not being conscionable a 1 off.

"We are Dutch and successful Holland we person to play well, we person to play offensive," he said.

"The capacity was outstanding and that is what we request to person a chance to proceed successful this tournament."

The Dutch fans person been a colourful beingness astatine Euro 2024 and intelligibly don't want to spell home. Based connected this showing from their side, they could beryllium astir for a while longer yet.