In the quarterfinals of the European Cup, which ended in the early hours of July 7 Beijing time, the Netherlands reversed Turkey with 2-1 and successfully advanced to the quarterfinals. After the match, Dutch head coach Koeman accepted the media interview, analyzed the match in depth and looked forward to the next semi-final.
Coleman began by recognizing the excitement of the match: "It was an exciting encounter, with both sides displaying a high level of athleticism. Although we started the game well, the Turks quickly found their rhythm and got the upper hand. They played with passion and quality, which put us under a lot of pressure."
Speaking about his team's ups and downs during the game, Koeman said, "We had difficulties in the first half and couldn't find the space to attack, which led to us conceding goals and being dominated by our opponents. Fortunately, we didn't give up and chose to stick to our style of play. In the second half, we made changes by bringing on Walt (Weghorst) and strengthening our side passes, and these changes ultimately helped us turn the game around."
Koeman was proud of his team's progress to the quarterfinals: "It's a special day for the whole of the Netherlands. We are a small country, but our team was able to reach the semifinals and play with strong teams like England, France and Spain. This proves our strength and courage. Tonight's match was tough, but we showed great courage and indomitable spirit."
Looking ahead to the next semi-final against England, Koeman said: "England is a strong team with many good players, but we are not weak. It's a great success that we've reached the semi-finals of the Euros. The next matches will be tougher, but we will be at our best to meet the challenge. We will give our best regardless of the result."
Koeman also spoke about England going into extra time in two consecutive matches: "Although they played two extra time matches in a row, it doesn't mean they are at a physical disadvantage. We also need to get back in shape and be ready for the next games. The final result will not be determined by physical differences, but by our tactical execution and player performance."
Finally, Koeman re-emphasized the team's spirit: "You always need to look at something critically, but as you can see tonight, there are no small countries in soccer. We needed to fight to the end and play at our level. We've been through tough times, but it's also made us more united and determined. I'm proud of this team and they deserve all the praise and respect."
The Netherlands will face England in the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League on July 11th at 3:00 am Beijing time. This will be a highly anticipated matchup, and I believe both teams will bring an exciting game to their fans.
