UEFA Euro 2024 scores, results, highlights: Turkiye to face Netherlands in quarterfinal after thrilling win

Getty Images

In one of the best games of the tournament so far, Turkiye barged their way past Austria and into the quarterfinals off the back of an outstanding performance by Arda Guler, whose deadly deliveries created two goals for Merih Demiral in a 2-1 win only secured by a stunning Mert Gunok save in the last seconds.

Earlier in the day the Netherlands reached the quarterfinals of a European Championship for the first time since 2008 as the outstanding Cody Gakpo and a brace from substitute Donyell Malen earned them a 3-0 win over Romania in Munich.

Euro 2024 scores for Friday

All times Eastern

Romania 0, Netherlands 3
Austria 1, Turkiye 2

Austria 1, Turkiye 2: Guler delivers in thrilling win

The race between Euro 2024's two dark horses went to the final furlong in thrilling fashion, a virtuoso display from Guler with the ball dead and live sending Turkiye into a quarterfinal with the Dutch in Berlin. Both sides have been two of the most exhilarating for neutral viewers so far in this tournament and they set their stall out from the outset.

Guler's first of many chaos-inducing dead-ball deliveries flew menacingly from the right corner towards Patrik Pentz's far post, the combined attempts of two defenders and the goalkeeper to clear the ball doing nothing more than teeing up Merih Demiral to poke home.

TÜRKIYE IN LESS THAN A MINUTE 😱

WHAT A START ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/jq0l6cbe6r
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2024

Turkiye led inside 57 seconds but they refused to settle for that lead. Guler had the diminutive Pentz nervously scrabbling towards his goal line when he prematurely ended a counter attack with an ambitious strike from range. Most impressively, the Turkish backline was not unsettled by the intensity of the Austrian press, Gunok showing impressive passing range to get over the first lines and get his side flying up the right wing.

Ralf Rangnick shuffled his pack at the break and Michael Gregoritsch immediately put himself about at the tip of the Austrian attack, driving wide from an offside position. Moments later, Gunok made his frame big enough to block Marko Arnautovic from close range. That was, however, their most dangerous spell of the game, one soon nullified by another brilliant delivery from Guler.

This time the Real Madrid youngster didn't need any favorable deflections to work the ball to Demiral, the diminutive Al-Ahli center back rising to dizzying heights to flick home. Clearly, the Austrians saw something to suggest the dead ball game might just be the best approach in the torrential Leipzig rain. Seven minutes after Turkiye doubled their lead, it was halved, Sebastian Posch flicked on Marcel Sabitzer's corner and Gregoritsch was on hand to convert, setting the stage for a denouement where the ball only rarely left the Turkish third of their pitch.

Demiral was as effective getting his head to the ball in his own box as he was Austria's, though Christoph Baumgartner might have done better when the Turkish goalkeeper misjudged a cross. Gunok made amends for that and then some in the last minute, a magnificent spring to his left somehow enough to get a hand on Baumgartner's goalbound header, a save worthy of winning a match of sheer brilliance.

Don't miss CBS Sports Golazo Network's Morning Footy, now in podcast form! Our crew brings you all the news, views, highlights and laughs you need to follow the Beautiful Game in every corner of the globe, every Monday-Friday all year long.

Romania 0, Netherlands 3: Late goals add luster for Dutch

The Netherlands took their time to get going, but after spurning the many, many chances they created for themselves to overcome a spirited but ultimately limited Romania, two late goals by Malen adding a sheen to an impressive but occasionally profligate display for a Dutch side who may believe that a more favorable side of the draw is opening up nicely for them. Thirty-six years on from winning the Euros on German soil as a player, Ronald Koeman has a chance to repeat the feat as a manager.

As has been their way throughout this tournament, Romania began proceedings in Munich with relentless intensity, their man-to-man press asking questions of what is an extremely experienced Dutch backline. But for excellent interventions from Nathan Ake, the favorites may well have had a lot to do from early on.

Such an intense start could not last, however, and when the pressure on them eased only for a minute the Dutch struck. Gakpo's sixth strike at major tournaments was typical of those he scored in his best form with PSV Eindhoven, cutting in off the left flank to strike from range on his right foot. The goals may not have flown as freely at club level as they do with the Netherlands but Gakpo's compatriot and new Liverpool boss Arne Slot will surely be intrigued by how effective Euro 2024's top scorer is on the left flank.

NETHERLANDS ON TOP 🇳🇱🇳🇱

Cody Gakpo with an INCREDIBLE strike 💪 pic.twitter.com/NownrtRicm
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 2, 2024

Once they were in the lead, the Netherlands had a hatful of chances to increase. Stefan De Vrij and Virgil van Dijk hit sidenetting and post with headers while the impressive Radu Dragusin cut out Denzel Dumfries' cut back when Memphis Depay was primed to score. More last gasp defending on the goal line line denied the Dutch in the second half while Gakpo saw a goal ruled out for offside in the 63rd minute.

The football the Dutch were playing was some of their most impressive of the tournament, all that was lacking was the finishing touch. Substitute Joey Veerman did everything right but apply enough bend to the ball when played in down the left after nice work by Xavi Simons. Still, the Dutch did not falter and with seven minutes to play they finally got their second.

Depay and Gakpo worked admirably to keep the play alive, Dragusin's bump on the latter not quite enough to kill off an attack before the Liverpool forward cut back from the deadline, substitute Malen darting in to convert at close range. Even on a day like today, that was a chance too good to miss. There was more to come from the Borussia Dortmund forward.

Indeed once he got his eye in Malen could barely even be stopped, a shoe hurled onto the pitch in added time not enough to put him off his stride as he burst away and drove past Florin Nita. The best performance from the Netherlands so far at Euro 2024 brought with it a heavy win; suddenly a tournament that looked to be too good for them in defeat to Austria seems full of possibilities.