MUNICH, Germany--After a week of brow beating, hand wringing and introspection, the Netherlands emerged from defeat in their last group game to give a vivid display of their potential on Tuesday in booking a quarter-final place at the European Championship. The one-sided nature of their 3-0 win over Romania in the round of 16 at the Munich Football Arena was sparkling Dutch football at its best – save for multiple misses in front of goal that might have ensured a more emphatic winning margin. Cody Gakpo scored his third goal of the European Championship and substitute Donyell Malen added two more after coming on late in the game. . But it was a marked improvement from the group stage where they staggered into the knockout rounds in third place and spent several days in sessions of self-criticism and clearing the air discussions with one another after losing 3-2 to Austria. Plain speaking is a Dutch trait and even the junior members of the squad are encouraged to voice their opinion. Whether all the frank discourse was the catalyst for the champagne showing is debatable because Romania offered only 10 minutes of high pressing pressure at the start of the game and not much more thereafter. But whatever the quality of the opponents, the confidence boost the Dutch will get from the last-16 win will serve them well for Saturday's quarter-final in Berlin. Noticeable was how they quickened the pace of their passing, how committed they were to winning the second balls and how effectively they drove down the wings or through the centre. Cody Gakpo's performances for Liverpool in the Premier League might have been a mixed bag but he is fast emerging as a real star for the national team. His goals for the Netherlands are proving invaluable. The 25-year-old got three at the last World Cup in Qatar, where the Dutch reached the last eight before losing to eventual winners Argentina on penalties and now has three at this tournament too. His total is 12 goals in 28 internationals. It is on the left side of the attack that Gakpo is most dangerous, particularly his ability to cut in and shoot, and he is beginning to evoke comparisons with Arjen Robben. The 21-year-old Xavi Simons is also fast developing into a vital link player with an aggression belying his small frame. They, and the rest of a sharp-looking Dutch side, will now have a bounce in their step as they look forward to the weekend. There is no need for any more critical contemplation. Slow start The Dutch started slowly at the Munich Football Arena as underdogs Romania -- roared on by their yellow-clad supporters -- controlled the ball for the first quarter of an hour before the Netherlands slowly started to get a grip on the match. They broke the deadlock after 20 minutes when player of the match Gakpo fired low past Florin Nita at the keeper's near post before Malen's late double clinched a quarter-final with Austria or Turkey, who play later on Tuesday, in Berlin on Saturday. "This was the answer we had to our last performance - good game, good goals, we played good football," Gakpo said. "Of course we could do better but 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." Gakpo was a menace all night and turned provider for Malen's first goal in the 83rd minute when he kept the ball in play on the touchline and knocked it across the box for an easy tap in. Malen, who is the first Netherlands player to score in a Euro knockout match as a substitute, notched his second in stoppage time when he collected the ball in midfield, dribbled into the penalty area and fired past Nita as the Dutch served notice that they have started to click at the tournament. Romania, who were forced into a first half substitution when Bogdan Racovitan came on in defence for Vasile Mogosafter a collision, created few chances and never looked a serious threat as the Dutch controlled possession and waited to get forward. Romania manager Edward Iordanescu had said his side, who topped Group E with four points, would need a near perfect performance but his players lacked the crispness and counter-attacking threat they displayed earlier in the tournament. "We played well the first 15 to 20 minutes then their first goal came and it destabilised us to some extent," Romania defender Andrei Burca said. "We are disappointed, we wanted a lot from this match." The Netherlands had two thirds of possession and almost five times more chances with 24 attempts in the game to underline their superiority as Virgil van Dijk struck the post with a header and Gakpo had a second effort ruled out for offside.
