At the start of the new Nations League, the football players of Oranje played a draw against Germany in an entertaining game. Both teams kept each other in a well-filled Rat Verlegh Stadium in Breda both before and after halftime: 2-2.
National coach Andries Jonker mainly uses this Nations League to work towards his ideal basic setup for the European Championship in Switzerland next summer. According to the trainer departing after the European Championship, the “time of opportunities” is over. Feelings of revanches for the Nations League-Troost final against Germany, which lost last year,, as a result of which the Germans qualified for the Olympic Games, were also secondary.
PSV defender Veerle Buurman (18) made a sufficient impression in the practice matches last fall to get another chance in the base, in addition to the Caitlin Dijkstra returned from an injury. Captain Sherida Spitse was therefore on the couch. Vivianne Miedema, who also returned from an injury, wore the captain’s band at her return.
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Orange had more the ball and that led to the first chance in the thirteenth minute. Neighbor dribbled well and sent the fast Lineth Beerensteyn away with a measured depth pass. The attacker opened the score through the foot of keeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
In the injury time of the first half, the stronger Germany came alongside. Spits Lea Schüller was able to head between neighbor and Esmee Brugts after a pass from Klara Bühl.
Five minutes after the break it went wrong again for the Orange. Jule Brand was given a lot of space from Dijkstra and found Sjoeke Nüsken, who was also free and gave the Germans the lead.
Beerensteyn equalized in the 66th minute. The Chasity Grant, who had come in for the injured Daniëlle van de Donk, found Beerensteyn with a cross, who narrowly headed the ball over keeper Berger. The attacker of VFL Wolfsburg is rising by her two hits to fifth place on the list of top scorers of all time in Orange, with 38 goals in 111 duels.
Jonker brought four new players in the second half, including Spitse. That could count on a loud applause from the thousands of Orange fans in Breda. They no longer saw goals, despite a great opportunity for Renate Jansen substitute.
Oranje continues the Nations League on Tuesday with a match with Scotland. Austria is the third country in the group. (ANP)