Netherlands vs Turkey Combined XI: Crescent-Stars dominate ahead of quarter-final showdown
Ahead of the final quarter-final at Euro 2024, with the Netherlands facing off against Turkiye, we’ve put together a Combined XI based on players’ WhoScored ratings from the tournament so far.
In our XI it’s Turkiye that dominate, with seven players to the Netherlands’ four. Here, we run through the team in full.
Bart Verbruggen (Netherlands) - 7.01
Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen has cemented his spot as the Netherlands’ number one throughout Euro 2024, playing every minute under Ronald Koeman. The 21-year-old has helped the Oranje to clean sheets against both France and Romania so far, with hopes of making it three from five on Saturday.
Fenerbahce defender Mert Muldur earns a place at right-back having scored in Turkiye’s opening group win over Georgia. The 25-year-old has thus far managed six tackles, three interceptions and eight clearances as part of Vincenzo Montella’s backline.
Merih Demiral (Turkiye) - 7.28
Though banned by UEFA for this quarter-final, Merih Demiral’s on-pitch performances - particularly most recently against Austria - help him to a 7.28 WhoScored rating. The former Juventus man grabbed a match-winning brace in the last of 16, contributing to the best rated individual performance of Euro 2024 so far (9.64).
Samet Akaydin (Turkiye) - 7.02
Joining Demiral at the heart of our back four is Panathinaikos centre-back Samet Akaydin, who missed out on the round of 16 victory owing to suspension. The 30-year-old’s group stage performances, though, see him take a place in our Combined XI over the likes of Stefan de Vrij and Virgil van Dijk.
Ferdi Kadioglu (Turkiye) - 7.16
Fenerbahce full-back Ferdi Kadioglu was already the subject of major interest from across Europe, and his performances at Euro 2024 will have only helped his stock to rise even further. The 24-year-old has created more chances from open play than any other player so far (10).
Donyell Malen (Netherlands) - 7.07
Despite starting just one game at this summer’s tournament, Borussia Dortmund attacker Donyell Malen makes our XI after bagging a brace from the bench in the round of 16. The 25-year-old amusingly turned the ball into his own net against Austria in the final group game, but bounced back to help fire the Oranje to the last eight.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands) - 6.96
21-year-old Xavi Simons, who sparkled for RB Leipzig on loan from PSG last season, has provided more assists (3) than any other player at Euro 2024 so far. Across the four matches he has played, Simons has managed seven shots on goal, eight key passes and three successful dribbles for an average WhoScored rating of 6.96.
Ismail Yüksek (Turkiye) - 6.77
The third Fenerbahce player to make our XI is central midfielder Ismail Yuksek, who has started Turkiye’s most recent two matches, perhaps owing mostly to suspension of other key players. Yuksek came on as a substitute in the defeat to Portugal, before starting and providing an assist in the victory over Czechia.
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands) - 8.10
The final Netherlands player to make our Combined XI is Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo, whose performances so far see him ranked as the second best rated player at Euro 2024. Gakpo both scored and assisted in the last 16 victory over Romania, while his two goals in the group stage mean no player has scored more goals than the 25-year-old (3).
Baris Alper Yilmaz (Turkiye) - 6.96
Though he may not have scored or assisted yet, Turkiye attacker Baris Alter Yilmaz has performed well and posed a threat in each of the four games he has started. The Galatasaray man has so far managed four tackles, five key passes and eight successful dribbles.
Real Madrid’s teenage star Arda Güler completes our XI, having lit up Germany with his exciting, commanding performances for his country. The 19-year-old announced himself on the European stage with a goal of the tournament contender in the opening victory over Georgia, while across the four matches he has managed seven key shots on goal, six key passes and five successful dribbles.
