1-0 against Netherlands: France defeats quarter-final curse – now Germany is waiting

France’s footballers are in the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time in ten years – and are now meeting Germany. The defending champion was eliminated but put up a great fight with the French until extra time.

They suffered, struggled and trembled for a long time again this time – but now France have put their quarter-final curse behind them. The “Equipe Tricolore” defeated the Netherlands 1-0 on Saturday (07/23/2022) at the New York Stadium in Rotherham – but needed a penalty whistle in extra time, which only came about after the intervention of the video referee. Girondins Bordeaux right-back Eve Perisset converted the penalty awarded by Dominique Janssen to Kadidiatou Diani in the 102nd minute.

EM and World Cup: Four German victories against France

For the first time since the 2012 Olympics, the “Grande Nation” is in the semi-finals of a major football tournament. Coach Corinne Diacre’s team will meet the German soccer players in Milton Keynes next Wednesday (July 27th, 2022). They have met the French four times at the European Championships and World Cup – and have always won. France is playing for the first time ever to enter a European Championship final.

Defending champions Netherlands have to pack their bags early after their deserved defeat. Plagued by injuries and corona cases, the runner-up world champion under English coach Mark Parsons was unable to repeat his performance at the 2017 home European Championship.

Miedema in the starting eleven after the forced Corona break

The evening in Rotherham had started with good news for the “Oranje” fans. Vivianne Miedema’s name appeared in the starting XI. The Arsenal striker spent a good week in isolation after her corona infection, including her 26th birthday – and meanwhile missed two group games. Nevertheless, the captain led her team onto the field.

Miedema has now scored 94 goals in 113 international matches – but against France the qualities of the top scorer, who is strong in the air, were almost exclusively in demand on the defensive. France played their game over the fast wingers Delphine Cascarino and Diani and were overwhelmingly superior. After the first half, “Les Bleues” scored 12:1 shots on goal – but it was fruitless art.

Cascarino’s volley hits the post

Young Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar was not outwitted by either the ricochet from Wolfsburg defender Janssen (17′) or Cascarino’s long-range shot (21′). Everything else before the break almost took care of itself: Sandie Toletti chased the ball free-standing from twelve meters in the direction of the spectators (23′), Cascarino’s volley hit the post (27′) and central defender Stefanie van de Gragt saved Melvine Malard’s attempt from six meters for her defeated goalkeeper on the line (37th).

No goals – a mysterious gameplay

The fact that the game was still 0-0 at the break caused amazement, sometimes a shake of the head and only relief for the Dutch and their entourage. The “Oranjeleeuwinnen”, handicapped after the loss of their number one, Sari van Veenendaal, and striker Lieke Martens did not have the quality on the pitch to be able to stand up to the star ensemble around captain Wendie Renard, who combined with dreamlike security.

Although the Dutch women freed themselves from France after the break after the substitution of Wolfsburg’s Jill Roord. On the other hand, keeper van Domselaar had to push hard against substitute Selma Bacha (65′) and Renard (66′) to prevent a goal. The Dutch now celebrated every defensive tackle – but how much longer could they keep it up?

Keeper van Domselaar – an EM discovery

Longing. And the more time passed, the more the French apparently lost faith in being able to break the quarter-final spell. From the 70th minute their offensive game came to a standstill. A big chance three minutes before the end of the normal playing time should have made the decision, but disbelief spread again: Grace Geyoro, the French women’s top scorer to date with three goals, failed to get her header in after a cross from Cascarino on the back post Goal under (87th).

Finally, in added time, Twente goalkeeper van Domselaar reacted brilliantly twice against Cascarino (90’+3) and Renard (90’+4) and sent her team into overtime. She even got her fingertips on Perisset’s penalty. Thrown in at the deep end in the first European Championship game after van Veenendaal’s injury, the 22-year-old is already one of the greatest discoveries of the tournament, despite the early elimination of the defending champions.