NETHERLANDS PLAYER RATINGS: Which 'clumsy but decisive' star is a threat to England? Who was the 4/10 weak link? And which Turkish player showed his incredible talent?

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Netherlands will play England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after coming from behind to beat a spirited Turkey side.  

Turkey were the more impressive side in the opening half with Samet Adaykin giving them a deserved lead. 

The Dutch though picked up a gear mid-way into the second-half, with Stefan de Vrij pulling them level before Mert Mulder put the ball in the back of his own net - though Cody Gakpo would love to claim that goal.

It sets up what should be a fascinating semi-final match with England on Wednesday. 

Here, Mail Sport's TOM COLLOMOSSE runs the rule over Netherlands and Turkey. 

The Netherlands will play England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after beating Turkey

Netherlands (4-3-3)

BART VERBRUGGEN 7

Looked uncertain on Turkey’s opening goal though it was a brilliant ball from Arda Guler. Excellent save in the second half from Yildiz’s deflected strike and even better one in stoppage time.

DENZEL DUMFRIES 6.5

Struggled to impose himself in the first half found it tough against Kadioglu before delivering a superb cross that produced the winner and defended for his life late on.

STEFAN DE VRIJ 6.5

Yilmaz is a tough opponent for any centre-back and De Vrij was regularly at full stretch. Powerful header from Depay’s cross to bring his team level and then a decisive block late on.

VIRGIL VAN DIJK 6

Like De Vrij, had his work cut out handling Yilmaz though he made one superb recovery challenge to stop him in full flight. Booked.

Virgil van Dijk had his work cut out handling Baris Yilmaz though he made one superb tackle

Stefan de Vrij also struggled with Yilmaz but scored the goal to level the match up

NATHAN AKE 5

Important interceptions early on though was nutmegged by Yilmaz and Guler’s movement in off the flank gave him a problem he struggled to solve. Subbed.

JERDY SCHOUTEN 6.5

Neat and tidy enough in the centre though in the first half he never looked like hurting Turkey from his central midfield role.

XAVI SIMONS 6

Excellent at finding space between the Turkish defence and midfield, less impressive at using it. Lucky only to be booked for an ugly challenge on Muldur.

TIJJANI REIJNDERS 6.5

Energetic without the ball, composed with it as he tried to keep the Dutch moving but the pace was too slow. How they miss the injured Frenkie de Jong. Subbed.

STEVEN BERGWIJN 4

Kept his place despite going off at half-time in the last-16 win over Romania and never looked at home here. Subbed again at the break.

Steven Bergwijn was subbed off at the break and never looked at home against Turkey

MEMPHIS DEPAY 6.5

Should have done better than fire over from an excellent position in the early stages and struggled initially to affect the game due to the tight marking of the Turkish centre-backs.

CODY GAKPO 7

Can look clumsy on the ball but in the decisive moments, he delivers. Wasn't credited with the second goal as he and Muldur fought for Dumfries’ excellent cross.

Cody Gakpo improved in the second-half and will be frustrated not to be awarded the goal

SUBS

WOUT WEGHORST 6.5

Replaced Bergwijn at half-time and operated as a lone forward, allowing Depay to drop deeper. Stunning last-ditch clearance to deny Turkey a second.

MICKY VAN DE VEN 6.5

The Tottenham flier was brought on to replace Ake midway through the second half and saved a goal with a superb clearance

JOEY VEERMAN 6

PSV midfielder sent on in the second half as a like-for-like swap for Reijnders.

JEREMIE FRIMPONG

Bayer Leverkusen speedster sent on as time ticked by.

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE

One of Europe’s most promising forwards will hope to see more action in the semi-final.

COACH RONALD KOEMAN 6.5

He’ll argue his substitutions worked but in truth he got away with one here. Rarely looked dangerous until De Vrij equalised before the Netherlands got the winner through an own-goal. That was all that was needed.

Turkey (3-4-3)

MERT GUNOK 6

Little to do in the first half as the heroics he showed against Austria were not required – and he could do little about either goal.

KAAN AYHAN 6

Playing on the right of Turkey’s back three, showed excellent positional sense to keep Depay at bay in the first half though he struggled after the equaliser.

SAMET AKAYDIN 6

Replaced the suspended Merih Demiral and just as Demiral did against Austria, he opened the scoring with a powerful header from Guler’s delicious cross. Did well against Depay.

Samet Akaydin scored the opener as he filled in for the suspended Merih Demiral

ABDULKERIM BARDAKCI 6

A warrior on the left of the back three, always seems to be playing on the ragged edge and it was no different here.

MERT MULDUR 6

Needing to keep an eye on Gakpo, he did not power forward as often as he would like. Competed well until the key moment when he put the ball in the back of his own net under pressure from Gakpo. 

SALIH OZCAN 6.5

Turkey were outnumbered in central midfield and that required great discipline from their pairing and Ozcan did his job well.

HAKAN CALHANOGLU 6.5

The Inter Milan man returned from suspension and his experience and class were invaluable in the midfield duel.

FERDI KADIOGLU 7

A gem of a player. Made the left flank his own with a barnstorming performance in both attack and defence, against the country of his birth. On this form, he’ll join a big club in a top-five league.

ARDA GULER 7.5

What a talent. Started on the right but drifted where he wanted. Brilliant ball with his weaker foot for the opener and hit the post with a second-half free-kick. Sky is the limit for this kid.

Arda Guler impressed again despite Turkey's elimination - the sky is the limit for him

BARIS YILMAZ 8

On the wing against Austria but started through the middle here. Did not give Van Dijk or De Vrij a moment’s peace and was so unlucky to be on the losing side.

KENAN YILDIZ 6

Quieter than his two forward colleagues but worked diligently to help out Kadioglu and came close to scoring with a deflected effort in the second half.

Baris Yilmaz did not give De Vrij or Van Dijk a moment's peace during the game on Saturday

SUBS

OKAY YOKUSLU 6

West Brom midfielder could not manage to turn the tide.

KEREM AKTURKOGLU 6

Could have equalised late on only to be denied by De Vrij’s block and should have done better with a last-minute header.

ZEKI CELIK

Thrown on as Turkey chased the game.

CENK TOSUN

An extra attacker sent on as Turkey attempted to pull the game around.

COACH VINCENZO MONTELLA 6.5

His team were pretty much perfect until De Vrij equalised and then switched off again at a crucial moment. A painful lesson for this talented team but one they should learn from. Booked.

REFEREE CLEMENT TURPIN 7.5

Accomplished performance from the Frenchman who underlined his status as one of the continent’s top officials.