Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman expressed his frustration after his team’s 2-1 Euro 2024 semi-final defeat to England on Wednesday. A controversial penalty decision followed by a last-minute goal from Ollie Watkins left the Dutch team devastated.
“I am disappointed about the final result in a match which started really good for us,” Koeman told reporters at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund. The Dutch had taken an early lead with a brilliant goal by Xavi Simons.
Harry Kane equalized shortly after from a contentious penalty, but the match seemed destined for extra time until substitute Watkins struck in the 91st minute, securing England’s place in the final against Spain. The penalty decision came after Kane shot over the bar and was lightly contacted by Denzel Dumfries. Despite the minimal contact, German referee Felix Zwayer awarded the penalty after consulting the VAR monitor.
“What can you do as a defender? In my opinion, this shouldn’t have been a penalty,” Koeman complained. “We cannot play football properly and that is due to VAR. It breaks football.”
Koeman noted that his team had gained control after the 35th-minute introduction of midfielder Joey Veerman, who replaced the injured Memphis Depay. This change helped the Dutch manage England’s attacking threats, particularly from Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden.
“We had some difficulties in the midfield to stop the good players like Bellingham and Foden between the lines,” he said. “We made some changes to get control back, and the feeling was that in the last 20 minutes we were the better team and attacking more. But then came the knockout on 90 minutes. A great goal, and then it’s over, and that is difficult to accept.”
Despite the disappointment, Koeman, who returned as Netherlands coach after the 2022 World Cup, where Louis van Gaal led the team to the quarter-finals, emphasized the positives. Their performance in Germany marked their best European Championship run since 2004, when they also exited in the semi-finals.
“We should be proud; we’ve achieved many things in these weeks,” Koeman insisted, acknowledging the absence of injured Barcelona playmaker Frenkie de Jong. “This team is able to do more. And moreover, there are also players who will join us in the future. Some were not able to play because they were not fit, so there’s a future for us. We have to improve some aspects, but we were close to the final.”
Looking ahead, the Dutch will now focus on their next assignment: a double-header of UEFA Nations League games in September against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Germany. Meanwhile, Koeman believes England has a strong chance in the final against Spain on Sunday.
“I think England showed great football in the first half after going 1-0 down,” he said. “England are in the final, and they have possibilities to win it. Spain are playing at a high level, but England can stop them, why not.”