Euro 2024: Romania Vs Netherlands, Potentially Tackled By Surprise Team

The Netherlands cannot underestimate Romania in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 (Instagram/@euro2024).

JAKARTA The Euro 2024 surprise team, Romania, will again try to make another surprise when they meet the Netherlands in the round of 16.

Romania vs Netherlands will take place at Bayern Munich headquarters, Allianz Arena Stadium, on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 23.00 WIB.

Romania, made by tactician Edward Iordanescu, qualified for the knockout stages as winners of Group E. The four teams in this group both completed the preliminary phase with a collection of four points.

This is the first time in Euro history that the four teams in one group have collected the same number of points after winning once, drawing once, and losing once.

However, Romania is entitled to the top position thanks to a three-goal win without reply to Ukraine and a draw against Slovakia in the group's last game. The two games gave them a goal productivity lead over the other three teams.

Tickets for the last 16 of Euro 2024 made Romania record a negative achievement for 20 years. During that period, Tricolorii never touched the knockout stages of the Euros.

The last time they advanced further than the group stage was at Euro 2000. They managed to reach the quarter-finals.

While in the two participations after that, they stopped in the group stage (2008 and 2016). Then, in the other three editions of the Euros in that range (2004, 2012, and 2020), Romania never qualified for the finals.

On the other hand, the Netherlands reached the knockout stages after getting one of the four best third-placed team tickets. Ronald Koeman's squad completed Group D with four points, behind Austria and France.

The Netherlands made a comeback to win over Poland in the first match, then held a goalless draw by France in the second match. In the group's last match, they lost dramatically 2-3 against Austria.

Twice Oranje fell behind Ralf Rangnick's side and twice they managed to catch up. However, Marcel Sabitzer's goal in the 80th minute ensured Austria unexpectedly topped the group standings.

The results in the group stage made the Netherlands need to improve if they wanted to be able to talk a lot in this tournament. Their chances to go to the big finals are because in their chart the rest of England are included in the favorite team.

Oranje was still more favored when they met Romania. The reason is, they only suffered one defeat from the previous 13 meetings.

The defeat took place in the 2008 Euro Qualifiers. However, they corrected the mistake with a 2-0 win over Romania when they met in the edition's finals.

However, notes on paper cannot be used as mere reference. Seeing the appearance of several surprise teams at Euro 2024, it is not impossible for Romania to tackle the Dutch.

Moreover, De Oranje's performance has not been convincing during the group phase as a leading team that is star-studded.

Just look at some of the last 16 matches that have been played. Italy lost to Switzerland. Then, England almost lost to Slovakia.

Only Germany and Spain still maintain the consistency of their performances.

Formation Forecast

Romania (4-3-3): Nita; Mogos, Dragusin, Burca, Ratiu; R. Marin, S. Marin, Stanciu; Hagi, Dragus, Coman

Netherlands (4-2-3-1): Verbruggen; Dumfries, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake; Reijnders, Schouten; Frimpong, Simons, Gakpo; Depay