Romania vs. Netherlands Euro 2024 Preview: Key Points for Romania to Watch

The Tricolorii will face the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 Round of 16. They have played against the Dutch team 8 times before, with the last victory being a 1-0 win for Romania in the Euro 2007 qualifiers. The OPTA supercomputer gives the Tricolors only a 26.71% chance of winning this match. However, Romania showed in their group stage match against Ukraine that they are not to be underestimated, even when the odds are against them.

In this article, we will look at the tactical trends of the Dutch national team in this championship and what Romania should be wary of in this match.

Netherlands’ Shape and Build-Up

Ronald Koeman usually opts for a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation, which shifts into a 3-2-5 structure during build-up, forming a line of three defenders. This is similar to the Romanian national team, but with a key difference: for Romania, defensive midfielder Marius Marin drops between the two center-backs, whereas for the Netherlands, they maintain a line of three defenders with Virgil van Dijk, Stefan de Vrij, and Nathan Aké. Dumfries typically advances on the right wing, Xavi Simons moves closer to the center, and Cody Gakpo takes on the left-wing role, providing width on that side of the field.

This formation puts considerable pressure on the defensive line, so it will be crucial for Romania to balance their defense. Marius Marin will play a vital role in Romania’s defense, as he needs to be highly active and identify situations where his support is required.

The Netherlands frequently employs the well-known “box midfield,” with Schouten, Veerman, Simons, and Reijnders forming a rectangle in the center of the field. Marius Marin will need to recognize when this quartet is causing problems in midfield and help balance that area. He must also be vigilant about Simons’ and Reijnders’ runs between the lines and cover those zones.

Defensive Lines and Pressing

The flanks will require special attention in this match. If Romania opts to defend in a compact structure, similar to their approach against Slovakia, Simons and Reijnders are likely to move towards the flanks. Therefore, it is crucial for the Romanian wingers not to push too far forward during pressing to avoid leaving the full-backs in a two-on-one situation.

The Netherlands’ three defenders typically play high up the pitch, and Koeman’s players press aggressively during transitions, aiming to quickly recover the ball after losing it.

This creates an opportunity for Romania to exploit by launching Dennis Man or Ianis Hagi. If they can quickly bypass the transition pressing and deliver decisive passes behind the advanced defensive line, Dennis Man or Ianis Hagi must be ready to capitalize. They need to be aware of when to stay forward to await a through ball and when to track back defensively to cover the wings.

The left side will be particularly challenging since Nicușor Bancu is suspended due to two yellow cards from the group stage. While Nicușor Bancu might not provide the same defensive energy as Andrei Rațiu, he is familiar with the position. Playing someone unfamiliar with this role could compromise the defensive stability on that side.

Romania in Build-Up

In defense, the Netherlands typically employs aggressive man-to-man pressing, aiming to quickly regain possession. This may not pose significant problems for Romania, who usually opts to build up play through long clearances from Florin Niță to the two offensive wingers. Consequently, the full-backs push forward significantly to collect the possession after these clearances.

When defending in their own half, the Netherlands tends to congest and block the midfield, forcing opponents to the flanks. Romania, however, prefers flank play, with almost all their dangerous attacks originating from the wings. Notably, the right side, featuring the pairs of Dennis Man – Andrei Rațiu or Ianis Hagi – Andrei Rațiu, has been more active offensively.

Conclusions

Although the Netherlands is the favorite in this match, Romania has shown that they can compete with stronger teams and players from top leagues worldwide. Therefore, if Romania pays close attention to their defensive phase and manages to maintain the necessary speed and high quality of long passes, they could advance to the quarterfinals. This would mark the first time in the national team’s history that they win a knockout stage match at the Euros.