Cody Gakpo said the Netherlands' performance against Romania represented the ideal answer to media criticism as they booked their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Gakpo opened the scoring as the Oranje ran out 3-0 winners in Tuesday's last-16 tie, with Donyell Malen coming off the bench to add two more goals in the latter stages.
The Liverpool man has now scored six goals at the last two major tournaments, with Kylian Mbappe (nine goals) the only European to better that tally across the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.
He is also one of just three players to net three or more goals in two separate tournaments for the Oranje, after Johnny Rep (1974 and 1978 World Cups) and Dennis Bergkamp (Euro 1992, 1994 and 1998 World Cups).
The Netherlands were fiercely criticised by the media at home after finishing third in Group D, and Gakpo was aware of the need to respond emphatically.
"This was the answer we had to our last performance – we had a good game, scored good goals, we played good football," Gakpo said.
"Of course we could do better, but it was a good showing after the last game. A good step in that next direction.
"We felt we were in control even though they were a dangerous opponent. We never had the feeling that we would lose control of the game."
Virgil van Dijk was among the Oranje players to see his group-stage performances slated, and he was equally proud of the team's response on Tuesday.
"We were defensively sound and solid and did not give up much," Van Dijk said. "We could have scored a lot more.
"After a turbulent week, where a lot was said, we had to show something and we did that. We are self-critical and we knew it had to be a lot better after the last game.
"Everyone went for the duels, won the second balls and took chances. Playing good football gives us self-confidence."
The Netherlands have progressed from a European Championship knockout match for the first time since 2004, when they beat Sweden on penalties after a goalless draw.
Excluding penalties, it is their first win in a knockout game since they thrashed Yugoslavia 6-1 in 2000 – the biggest margin of victory ever recorded at the tournament.
'It could have been the final', De la Fuente acknowledges as 'giant powers' Spain and Germany collide
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente believes his side's blockbuster last-eight clash with Germany would be a worthy final at Euro 2024.
The two sides - described as "giant powers of European football" by La Roja's boss - go head to head in an eagerly anticipated encounter at Stuttgart Arena on Friday.
Spain, who topped Group B with maximum points, are the only nation at the tournament to have won all four matches thus far, while Germany collected seven points in Group A before overcoming Denmark 2-0 in the last 16.
Both teams are seeking a record-breaking fourth European Championship triumph, and whoever prevails here will be widely expected to go on and lift the Henri Delaunay cup on July 14.
And De la Fuente is relishing what will be a repeat of the 2008 final, which La Roja won 1-0 thanks to Fernando Torres' sole strike.
"It could have been the final of the European Championship, and it'll be an even game on a footballing level," he told reporters during his pre-match press conference.
"Germany always start games in a really powerful way, so obviously we'll try to counteract that. We'll try to take the initiative and go all-out from the first minute.
"These are two giant powers of European football and the first thing I'd say about my team is that one of our great strengths is that we always perform as one unified block. In that respect, us and Germany are in fact quite similar.
"I wouldn't change my players for anyone in the world. For me, my players are the best in the world. We're fully prepared to go out there and try to win. We feel lots of responsibility, and we're extremely focused."
Asked if he thought the winners of this game will go on to lift the trophy, the coach added: "There are other powerful teams in other ties. The closer you get to the final, only the best remain.
"Nothing is free here. Whoever goes through will go through because they're a great team. In football, the best team doesn't always go through.
"I don’t know if [the winners] will be one of the favourites to win the title, but we see ourselves as a very strong team with the potential to fight for it."
Dani Carvajal concurred with De la Fuente, and the Real Madrid defender believes the contest will be determined by the finest of margins.
"I have a great feeling [about the game]," he said. "I can see from my team-mates that everyone is relaxed.
"We know we have to play a great game to beat them, but I can see a confident and energetic team. It's a 50-50 game in which details will make all the difference.
"Man for man, they have world-class players. They have fast wingers, tough centre-backs and people who like to have the ball at their feet. We have similar qualities to them.
"It depends on if they will sit back or press high. That's going to define how close we get to their goal, and maybe the pace of the game."
Martinez: Euro 2024 quarter-final not just Ronaldo versus Mbappe
Roberto Martinez insists Portugal's Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with France will not merely come down to Cristiano Ronaldo's duel with Kylian Mbappe.
Portugal and France face off in Hamburg on Friday, with a last-four meeting with either Germany or Spain the prize for the victor.
Many have billed the match as a head-to-head battle between Mbappe and his idol Ronaldo, with both superstars desperate to hit top form after underwhelming starts to the tournament.
Ronaldo is yet to score from 20 shots worth 2.75 expected goals (xG), the former being a tournament-high tally, and he was in tears at half-time in extra time after seeing a penalty saved in Portugal's last-16 tie versus Slovenia.
Mbappe, meanwhile, suffered a broken nose in France's Group D opener against Austria, returning to score from the penalty spot in their matchday-three victory over Poland but failing to prevent them from finishing as runners-up.
France are yet to score a goal from open play at this tournament, with two own goals coming alongside Mbappe's spot-kick.
Martinez has played down suggestions Friday's match will be all about stopping Mbappe, saying: "Suffering is part of life, it's part of football, part of everything.
"We can promise that we will give everything, the players are focused on playing, and football is a team sport. Tomorrow is not a two-player game.
"They have incredible influence, Cristiano had an influence on Mbappe and Mbappe on others, but tomorrow is a game where the team needs to perform great."
Ronaldo was criticised by many for attempting four shots from direct free-kicks without success against Slovenia.
He has now attempted 60 direct free-kicks in European Championship or World Cup matches, only scoring with one of them, versus Spain at the 2018 World Cup.
Asked whether Ronaldo could be stripped of set-piece duties, Martinez said: "That passes me by.
"The players practice in training and Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes have that responsibility. We are fortunate to have two players with a very good profile to do it."
Portugal will hope to draw on the memories of their Euro 2016 final victory over Les Bleus, when Eder scored an extra-time winner after Ronaldo was taken off injured.
Asked how Portugal's class of 2024 matches up to the 2016 champions, Martinez said: "I don't like to compare generations.
"This generation has a different path. We are a better generation, but in 2016 we had a victory in the final."
Switzerland not distracted by England squad talk, says Zuber
Switzerland midfielder Steven Zuber has said his team-mates are not distracted by the talk surrounding England's squad ahead of their quarter-final clash on Saturday.
England have been heavily criticised for their performances at Euro 2024 so far, with pressure from the outside reaching the Three Lions camp at Euro 2024.
Zuber has acknowledged the quality within England's ranks, but has promised Murat Yakin's side will do their talking on the pitch in Dusseldorf.
"The England squad, we do not need to speak about their quality or something else," Zuber said.
"I am not close to the team or what is going on. To be honest, it is also not my business or our business, we are just looking for ourselves.
"We know our strengths, we know our quality and we are looking forward to the game, to show our quality on the pitch, not beside the pitch because we are not good at talking, we are good at showing our quality on the pitch."
Switzerland have been one of the standout sides at the tournament so far, knocking out reigning champions Italy in their last-16 encounter last Saturday.
The Swiss have been eliminated at this stage on all four of their previous attempts, but Zuber is confident they can progress this time around.
"I really hope that we don't set limits for ourselves, not just us as players but the entire country. I hope this mentality of thinking that certain boundaries cannot be crossed has disappeared," Zuber told broadcaster RSI.
"It is not possible to regularly beat important teams, although the so-called favourites may run into difficulties. Certain boundaries should no longer matter to us."
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