The Orange Women trained with an almost complete selection a day before the crucial European Championship match against Switzerland. Only the corona-infected Vivianne Miedema was missing from the training field in Carrington on Saturday.
Jackie Groenen (back from a corona infection) and Aniek Nouwen (on the way back from an ankle injury) participated in the warm-up in the first fifteen minutes, just like Friday. The rest of the training, like Friday, was decided.
It is not yet clear whether Groenen and Nouwen are also available for the game against Switzerland. National coach Mark Parsons will give a press conference in Sheffield at 6.45 pm (Dutch time), where the Orange squad will play the last group match at the European Championship on Sunday. Parsons said Friday after training that things were looking good for both.
The possible return of Groenen in the match selection would be a big boost for the Orange, which saw Sari van Veenendaal and Miedema drop out in addition to Groenen and Nouwen last week. Captain Van Veenendaal left the training camp on Monday with a shoulder injury, while Miedema tested positive for the corona virus on Tuesday.
The latter is still in isolation at the players’ hotel in Worsley. On Friday she celebrated her 26th birthday alone in her hotel room. The selection looked for the star player outside and treated her on birthday songs, cake and balloons. National coach Parsons said on Friday that Miedema is “okay”, but that she is “not there yet”.
Jackie Groenen was ‘normal’ again at the training.
Jackie Groenen was ‘normal’ again at the training. Photo: Pro Shots
Quarterfinals at stake for Orange
The duel with Switzerland on Sunday is crucial for the Orange in the battle for a place in the quarter-finals of the European Championship. After the draw against Sweden (1-1) and the hard-fought victory over Portugal (3-2), the Netherlands has one point against Switzerland enough for a place in the last eight.
Sweden also has four points, while Switzerland has one point. A narrow defeat to Switzerland would almost mean elimination for the defending champion, even if Sweden unexpectedly loses to Portugal. Then successively the goal difference, the number of goals for and the card load are decisive.
Switzerland-Netherlands starts on Sunday at 6 p.m. on Bramall Lane in Sheffield. The game is led by Romanian referee Iuliana Demetrescu. At the same time, Sweden-Portugal will start.
Standings in group C
- 1. Netherlands 2-4 (+1)
- 1. Sweden 2-4 (+1)
- 3. Portugal 2-1 (-1)
- 4. Switzerland 2-1 (-1)