Netherlands mount Euros comeback against Turkey to set up England semi

Stefan de Vrij of the Netherlands, second right, celebrates after scoring his sides first goal scored his side first goal during the quarterfinal match between the Netherlands and Turkey at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, July 6, 2024. (AP)
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Updated 07 July 2024
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Netherlands mount Euros comeback against Turkey to set up England semi

  • Netherlands overcame the pressure from the stands and Turkey's energetic style, as well as a flurry of late chances, to reach the Euros semi-finals for the first time since 2004

BERLIN: The Netherlands struck two second-half goals in seven minutes to come from behind to beat Turkey 2-1 on Saturday and set up a Euro 2024 semi-final clash with England.
Samet Akaydin sent Turkey ahead in the first half but Stefan de Vrij headed the Netherlands level and Murt Muldur turned into his own net under pressure from Cody Gakpo after 76 minutes to hand the Dutch victory.
The build-up to the quarter-final clash in Berlin was overshadowed by a diplomatic row between Turkey and Germany after their last-16 hero Merih Demiral was banned for two matches for making a controversial salute.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the match at the Olympiastadion as a result, along with tens of thousands of fans who greeted every sustained Dutch period of possession with a barrage of whistles.
Netherlands overcame the pressure from the stands and Turkey's energetic style, as well as a flurry of late chances, to reach the Euros semi-finals for the first time since 2004.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella deployed five at the back, hoping his young side could catch Netherlands on the counter-attack.
It was the 1988 Euros champions who carved out the first chance, with Gakpo and Memphis Depay linking up well before the latter blazed over.
Koeman captained the Netherlands to glory 36 years ago but until their convincing 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16, the Dutch looked incapable of challenging for the trophy, sneaking through their group in third place.
They reverted to that weaker self in the first half after their early incursions, allowing Turkey to firmly establish themselves in the game.
Montella's side began to pin the Netherlands back with a string of set pieces, eventually capitalising after 35 minutes when Arda Guler recycled a corner which was only half-cleared.
The 19-year-old Real Madrid playmaker swirled in a cross dripping with temptation with his weaker right foot, and Akaydin, who returned from suspension to replace the banned Demiral, powered home a far post header.
Turkish fans, unsurprisingly filling three-quarters of the stadium given their large diaspora in Germany, roared and ignited flares in celebration.
Koeman had to shake things up at the interval and brought on Wout Weghorst, the team's saviour against Poland in their opening fixture, for Steven Bergwijn.
The burly Burnley striker made a rapid impact, giving the Netherlands a target to hit up front, which they looked for with regularity.
Guler continued to probe at the other end and was scythed down by Nathan Ake as he threatened to break free.
The youngster took the resulting free-kick himself and crashed a low effort against Bart Verbruggen's post with the goalkeeper scrambling.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk was booked for fouling the rapid Baris Alper Yilmaz as he flew past him on the right wing.
Turkey, in their first quarter-final at a major tournament since 2008, almost grabbed a second but Verbruggen saved well from Kenan Yildiz's stinging low effort from the edge of the box.
With 20 minutes to go, Weghorst forced a smart save from Mert Gunok, but the Turkish goalkeeper was eventually beaten by De Vrij after 70 minutes.
Memphis Depay swung in a cross after a short corner and Inter Milan defender De Vrij met it with a towering header to level the score.
Just six minutes later Netherlands went ahead when Denzel Dumfries swept in a dangerous low cross which Muldur bundled into his own net under heavy pressure from Euros joint-top scorer Gakpo. It was the 10th own goal of the tournament.
Although Weghorst was not directly involved in either goal, his presence in the box unsettled a Turkey defence that largely kept the Netherlands at bay in the first half.
Turkey should have levelled but Zeki Celik and Kerem Akturkoglu had efforts blocked and the Netherlands lived to fight another day -- against England on Wednesday in Dortmund.


Milan must maintain derby dominance to revive title race

Updated 5 sec ago
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Milan must maintain derby dominance to revive title race

  • Milan are undefeated in the last six derbies, winning four
  • Inter have dropped ⁠just two points in ⁠the last 15 games

MILAN: AC Milan need to maintain their recent dominance over neighbors Inter Milan in this weekend’s derby to keep alive any realistic hope of challenging for the Serie A title after losing ground to the league leaders.
Milan are undefeated in the last six derbies, winning four, and Sunday’s meeting at the San Siro feels like a must-win match for the second-placed side with Inter 10 points clear at the top.
At the start of January, three teams were battling for the Scudetto. Inter held a one-point lead over Milan, with reigning champions Napoli a further point back, but only one side has maintained title-winning form.
Inter have dropped ⁠just two points in ⁠the last 15 games to pull further away at the top while Milan have let seven points slip away in their most recent six games.
Massimiliano Allegri’s Milan have lost two league games all season compared to Inter’s four defeats, but drawing nine times has been their downfall and another stalemate on Sunday would be of little use to a side playing catch-up.
“In derbies there are ⁠no favorites,” Milan defender Strahinja Pavlovic told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“We saw it last season too, in the league we struggled and finished eighth, but we often won derbies. The derby is a story in itself.
“Nothing is over yet. There are 11 games left and the important thing is to stay united and give our best until the last minute.”
Inter are still without injured striker Lautaro Martinez, with Francesco Pio Esposito likely to lead the attack while Milan defender Matteo Gabbia is expected to be out for a month after undergoing a hernia operation.

DERBY DAY VERDICT
Inter’s most recent derby win came in April, 2024, where ⁠an away victory ⁠allowed them to clinch their last league title in front of the Milan fans.
That win was the last in a run of six successive victories over Milan, and while another derby victory would not seal the title this time, a gap of 13 points with 10 games left would leave Inter in cruise control for the rest of the season.
Napoli, meanwhile, are four points behind Milan, their title defense ended by two defeats in their last six games and they host Torino on Friday.
AS Roma, fourth in the standings, are at Genoa on Sunday, while Como are away to Cagliari on Saturday as Cesc Fabregas’ side have European qualification firmly in their sights.
Como are fifth, three points off Roma and one ahead of Juventus who host relegation-battling Pisa on Saturday.