Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman expressed his disappointment over his team’s narrow Euro 2024 semi-final loss to England, stating they deserved to play extra time.
The Dutch team initially took the lead early in the first half, only for Harry Kane to equalize with a penalty. In the 91st minute, Ollie Watkins scored the decisive goal from Cole Palmer’s pass.
Speaking on ITV after the game, Ronald Koeman said, “In the second half, it was more 50/50. We had issues in our midfield during the first half, struggling to manage Bellingham and Foden playing between the lines.”
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He explained that adjustments were made to add another player in midfield, which balanced the match. “My feeling was that in the last 20-25 minutes, our team seemed a bit fresher than England.”
Koeman acknowledged the quality of Watkins’ late goal, adding, “That’s football. Sometimes it’s not just bad luck. It’s a great goal.”
Reflecting on the match, he concluded, “Maybe we deserved extra time, but that’s how it goes. We can be proud of our team and players because we had a great tournament, though it’s unfortunate it ends tonight.”
