The European Football Championship for women will not be the tournament of defending champions the Netherlands. According to former international Jose van Hoof (69) from Helmond, there is too much wrong with the Lionesses. The European Championship starts on Wednesday evening for 74,000 fans at Old Trafford, the stadium of Manchester United in England. Five questions for José van Hoof.
1. How are the Orange Lionesses doing?
“My impression is that they are not going to get what they did under the old national coach Sarina Wiegman. The game is no longer fluid, there is a lot going wrong in the passing. I see the matches and think: you can still play the ball from A to B, right? They have a lot of trouble getting the ball to striker Miedema. And if she doesn’t get the ball, she can’t score. And that goalkeeper Van Veenendaal no longer belongs there.”
2. How come?
“I don’t really know national coach Parsons, but he didn’t start off flawlessly. I find it unclear and you can see that in the game. Moreover, I think that the KNVB should have put a woman there. There are plenty who have the capabilities to be national coaches.”
3. At the opening match, 74,000 fans are present. The final at Wembley is already sold out, which means 90,000 spectators. What does that say?
“That is really very good and very beautiful. It indicates that everything has gotten much better. But 30 years too late. I hope that all girls who play football will soon be able to join a professional club.
I am concerned about the Eredivisie. Almost all internationals play abroad, that’s saying something. I have doubts about the competition in the Netherlands. The training courses are good, but the clubs have to make steps internationally. At the KNVB, women should be given more attention, it has been neglected for far too long. More women who have been international should work in Zeist.”
4. How are you still involved in women’s football?
“Not as a coach anymore. Well in other areas. The talented keeper Kiki Vissers from Helmond has asked me for advice. She is 17 and kept in Germany with Mönchengladbach, but she was not trained very well. She is really blood fanatic and good. I advised her to go to FC Twente.
And for me as an international they created the José van Hoof trophy in Helmond. A tournament at Stiphout Vooruit for underprivileged children up to 9 years old. I think that’s great and I’m sure of that.”
5. Who will be European champion?
“England. They play at home, have a good selection and a very good trainer in Sarina Wiegman. Wiegman does remove the pressure from the home country.”
The selection of the Orange Lionesses includes:
- Caitlin Dijkstra – Breda
- Aniek Nouwen – Helmond
- Danielle vd Donk – Valkenswaard
- Jackie Groenen – Tilburg
- Sari van Veenendaal – PSV
- Esmee Brugts – PSV