Romania v Netherlands LIVE: Result and final score as Donyell Malen seals Euro 2024 quarter-final place

The anthems are done, the huge contingent of Romania fans warbling away quite impressively.

The final few hours of Round of 16 action is upon us. A Saturday night in Berlin awaits the victor.

Out the players come into the Allianz Arena, great swathes of yellow and orange creating a rather garish backdrop.

It was in Munich, of course, that the Dutch triumphed in this tournament in 1988, Ronald Koeman part of that outstanding side that beat the Soviet Union in the final. This may not be quite as fine a vintage but an exit here really would be a major disappointment.

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Romania are hoping to overturn the Netherlands’ historic dominance in this fixture as the teams meet in Munich for a last-16 tie at Euro 2024.

The Dutch have won 10 of their 14 games against Romania scoring 29 goals in the process but it is their opponents who come into this fixture having won their group while the Oranje progressed as one of the best third-placed sides.

The winners of this match play Austria or Turkey in the quarter-finals in Berlin on 6th July.

Despite looking fragile at times in Euro 2024, the Netherlands have a strong squad and enough firepower to progress in the competition.

Romania have been decent and they possess threats to trouble the Dutch but experience should win out with Ronald Koeman’s side making through to the quarter-finals.

Romania 1-2 Netherlands.

This will be Romania’s 20th game at the European Championship, making them the 16th side to reach that total at the finals.

They have won just two of their 19 games to date (D6 L12); previously, the fewest wins by a nation in their first 20 matches in the competition was four by Switzerland.

The surprise package of the group stages, Romania finished top of Group E ahead of Belgium and Slovakia. That secured their place in the tournament knockouts for the first time since 2000 when they famously finished above England.

Romania coach Edward Iordanescu said: “I don’t know what we can do in the future but we are very pleased to have reached the next stage. We want to go as far as we can.

“We are facing a fantastic and very hard test. We all are aware of this. But we also know that we will do what we’ve always done: give everything on the pitch.”

The Netherlands have lost each of their last three knockout stage matches in the European Championship, defeats by Portugal (1-2 in 2004 semi-final), Russia (1-3 in 2008 quarter-final) and Czech Republic (0-2 in 2020 last 16).

They could become only the second side to lose four consecutive knockout matches in the tournament’s history, after Yugoslavia from 1968 to 2000.

Romania have reached the knockout stage of a major tournament (World Cup/Euros) for the first time since Euro 2000, when they were knocked out by Italy at the quarter-final stage.

The Tricolorii have only progressed from one knockout tie in major competitions, beating Argentina 3-2 in the 1994 World Cup last 16.

Romania. Austria or Turkey. Switzerland or a wildly unimpressive England. Taken at face value, on history and international reputation, it’s not a route to the final of a major men’s international tournament which would terrify Europe’s finest.

Add Netherlands in as the nation which faces that pathway, that opportunity, and there would usually be a heavy favourite. Usually.

In years gone by - eras gone by, it’s probably more reflective to say - an Oranje team would have looked at those upcoming and potentially upcoming fixtures and merely decided, there and then, they would be getting to the final. And few would have opposed such a thought.