The Netherlands are set to face England in the Euro 2024 semifinals in Dortmund, Germany, on Wednesday. Dutch coach Ronald Koeman believes his team has defied expectations by reaching this stage of the continental tournament.
The path to the semifinals was anything but smooth for the Dutch side. Finishing third in Group D after a 3-2 loss to Austria, they had to dig deep to secure their place in the knockout stages. Two of their three victories came from remarkable comebacks, overcoming one-goal deficits in the second half, including a thrilling win over T\u00fcrkiye in the quarterfinals on July 6.
“I think, for the whole nation, it is something special,” Koeman expressed after the hard-fought victory. “We are a small nation and to be part of the semifinal with England, France, and Spain, we are really proud. We had to suffer tonight, but in the whole Euros there is not an easy one.”
He added, “It was really an emotional match and we had a big heart. Sometimes we get criticism that we don’t have that compared to other nations. The players showed a big heart tonight after going 1-0 down.”
The Netherlands’ resilience and determination have captured the attention of football enthusiasts worldwide. As they prepare to clash with England, fans are eager to see if Koeman’s men can continue their remarkable journey and further defy the odds.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
