In advance there was a bit of a taint surrounding the match in Braga. No fewer than eight players had unsubscribed from national coach Arjan Veurink for the match against number 21 in the FIFA rankings. Also under Andries Jonker, practice matches were canceled because it was a pleasure.
130-time international Dominique Janssen new captain of the Lionesses, Vivianne Miedema also misses practice match with Portugal
Among those absent are not the first ones: Jill Roord (FC Twente), Janou Levels (VfL Wolfsburg), Lotte Keukelaar (Real Madrid), Esmee Brugts (FC Barcelona), Vivianne Miedema (Manchester City), Lineth Beerensteyn (VfL Wolfsburg), Daniëlle van de Donk (London City Lionesses) and Jill Baijings (Aston Villa).
Significantly changed Dutch national team
Compared to the previous friendly match against Canada last month, only goalkeeper Lize Kop, captain Dominique Janssen, right back Lynn Wilms and midfielder Wieke Kaptein had retained their starting place.
The Orange Lionesses start their friendly match with Portugal with a significantly changed team
Dream start Orange
Yet the Netherlands had a dream start. The Orange Lionesses opened the score in the 21st minute. Chasity Grant scored for the 0-1 after an assist from Romeé Leuchter. It was her second goal as an international. A little later it was Lynn Wilms who scored the 0-2.
First goal conceded under national coach Arjan Veurink
Andreia Faria scored the first goal for the Dutch team under national coach Veurink with the tying goal in the 42nd minute. Last month, Jonker’s successor made his debut with a draw against Poland (0-0), followed by a victory over Canada (1-0).
After the break, Portugal pushed for an equalizer, but Dutch goalkeeper Lize Kop kept the Lionesses on their feet.
Veurink allowed Lynn Groenewegen, Danique Tolhoek and Lieske Carleer to make their debut in the last half hour.
South Korea awaits next Tuesday
The double with Portugal and South Korea (the opponent next Tuesday at 8:45 PM in Waalwijk) is the last test case before Veurink and his Lionesses embark on the qualifying route for the World Cup in Brazil (2027). France, Poland and Ireland are the opponents. The Dutch national team starts that campaign on March 3 with an away match against Poland.
Germany and Spain draw in first Nations League final match
The first Nations League final match between the football players of Germany and Spain ended 0-0. In front of around 40,000 fans in Kaiserslautern, the home team was more dangerous, but the defending champion and world champion held their ground.
The battle for the second Nations League title among women will be decided on Tuesday in Atlético Madrid’s Metropolitano stadium. Germany, which qualified for the last four in a group with the Dutch national team, finished third in the previous edition.