The situation ahead of the Round of 16 in Munich was a somewhat odd one. Romania had qualified for the last 16 as the winner of Group E and would face the Netherlands, who finished third in Group D. Nevertheless, the favourites were clearly the Oranje team, and they lived up to their billing. Cody Gakpo already gave the Netherlands the lead as early as the 20th minute - and that gave the Elftal even more confidence.
Romania could do little to counter their opponents' dominance, with only the Dutch side's poor finishing keeping the tension high in a one-sided match. It was only in the closing stages that super-sub Donyell Malen once again proved to be the difference maker, coming off the bench to double his side's lead in the 82nd minute before making sure of the Netherlands' place in the quarter-finals in stoppage time (90'+3).
UEFA EURO 2024, Round of 16
Romania 0-3 Netherlands (0-1)
Romania: Niță – Rațiu, Drăgușin, Burcă, Mogoș (38' Racovițan) – M. Marin (72' Cicâldău) – Man, R. Marin, Stanciu (88' Olaru), Hagi (72' Alibec) – Drăguș (72' Mihăilă)
Netherlands: Verbruggen – Dumfries, de Vrij, van Dijk, Aké (69' van de Ven) – Schouten (69' Veerman), Reijnders – Bergwijn (46' Malen), Xavi, Gakpo (84' Weghorst) – Depay (90'+2 Blind)
Referee: Felix Zwayer (Germany)
Goals: 0-1 Gakpo (20'), 0-2 Malen (82'), 0-3 Malen (90'+3)
Yellow cards: M. Marin, Stanciu / -
Spectators: 65,012