The Orange Women cannot appeal to Jackie Groenen for the time being. The midfielder tested positive for the corona virus a day after the first European Championship match against Sweden, the KNVB announced on Sunday.
The 27-year-old Greens will be in isolation for the next few days. When she is free of complaints and tests negative, she can rejoin the selection. On Saturday, the Manchester United midfielder played the entire game against Sweden and was one of the stars.
Greens’ positive corona test is another setback for the Orange women. Against Sweden, captain Sari van Veenendaal (shoulder) and Aniek Nouwen (ankle) were injured. It is not yet known on Sunday morning how serious both injuries are.
Groenen has been one of the important players of the Orange Women for years. The midfielder has 88 international matches to her name and was part of the selection that became European champion in his own country in 2017 and reached the World Cup final two years later in France.
It is not the first time that a player at the European Championship in England has tested positive for corona. The English Lotte Wubben-Moy and the Austrian Laura Wienroither preceded Groenen. There are no corona measures in England.
The Netherlands will play the second group match at the European Championship in Leigh on Wednesday. Then Portugal is the opponent. Next Sunday, the defending champion will close the group stage with a game against Switzerland.
European Championship program Orange women
- Netherlands-Sweden 1-1
- July 13 in Leigh: Netherlands-Portugal (9 p.m.)
- July 17 in Sheffield: Switzerland-Netherlands (6 p.m.)