The Netherlands advanced to the quarter-finals of the European Championship for the first time since 2008. Donyell Malen scored twice in a 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16 on Tuesday. Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch an early lead, but they were unable to convert pressure into a crucial second goal until the Liverpool forward set up Malen with seven minutes remaining in Munich.

Before Malen added his second goal on the counter in stoppage time, Romania proved to be tenacious but outmatched and lacked the determination to punish their opponents' carelessness.

Following their victory, the Netherlands will play either Turkey or Austria in the quarterfinals. Austria defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in the group round.

Ronald Koeman's team will need to enhance their goal-scoring ability if they are to imitate his manager, who was a member of the Dutch team that won the Euros in Germany in 1988.

Before the game, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk claimed his team lacked energy and the "will to win" in their defeat to Austria.

But the Dutch were still strangely flat in the early stages despite Van Dijk’s rallying cry.