🏆Netherlands make comeback win against Turkey, England advance on penalties

The quarter-finals of EURO 2024 will end on Saturday with two more exciting matches.

This is what happened:

Breathtaking six minutes: Netherlands comes back from behind and wins

Goalscorers: Akaydin 35′; De Vrij 70′, Müldur (OG) 76′

The Turks were heartbroken as the Netherlands fought back to win 2-1 and reach the semi-finals of EURO 2024.

Memphis Depay had a good chance to score right from the start, but the striker slipped at the crucial moment and his shot went well over the bar.

The game seemed to be following the general pattern of cautious starts in the knockout stages of this tournament, but then Real Madrid’s 19-year-old sensation Arda Güler delivered a superb cross straight to the far post, which Samet Akaydin gratefully headed in to score his first goal for Türkiye.

Güler was again the star of the game in the second half when he hit the post with a dangerous free kick.

Just when it looked like the Netherlands were struggling to get into the game, Wout Weghorst hit the side netting to win a corner and Stefan de Vrij leapt up from a cross from the ensuing corner to head the ball narrowly into the net.

One goal quickly became the second when Cody Gakpo misplaced a cross from Memphis Depay over the goal line – a truly remarkable turnaround.

Hectic final minutes followed and Bart Vebruggen reacted lightning fast, crouched down and parried Kerem Akturkoglu’s shot in injury time.

However, the Netherlands were able to prevail and will now face England in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Is it coming home?

Goalscorers: 80. Saka; 74. Embolo

England defeated Switzerland on penalties to secure their place in the semi-finals of EURO 2024.

After the match ended 1-1 after extra time, it was Trent Alexander-Arnold who converted the decisive penalty, securing a place in the semi-finals against the Netherlands or Turkey.

In order to finally get going in this tournament, England decided to change their formation: Gareth Southgate switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation.

The tactical change gave Bukayo Saka more space to run on the right and in the first 45 minutes the Arsenal player was the star of the show.

His pace and directness were the Three Lions’ main targets in the first half, but they were still lacking the final ball and so both sides went into the break without the chance to create any real chances.

In the second half, it was Breel Embolo who had the first attempt on goal after 50 minutes when he outwitted Ezri Konsa in the penalty area but could only shoot at Jordan Pickford.

Embolo was there again just moments later when the Swiss striker wrestled with Konsa in the box, but his header bounced off the Villa player and into Pickford’s arms.

And with 15 minutes to go, the deadlock was finally broken when Embolo appeared at the far post and slotted the ball in to give Switzerland the lead.

But their lead did not last long as Saka, England’s best player of the entire game, broke in from the right and fired a low shot into the far corner.

Declan Rice thought he had given the Three Lions an early lead in extra time, but his shot was brilliantly diverted around the post by Yann Sommer.

After 120 minutes, the game was level and went to penalties, when Alexander-Arnold scored the decisive penalty to send England through.