Daniëlle van de Donk says she sometimes thought about quitting last season. “That sometimes goes through your mind when you can’t play all the time. Fortunately, I was able to turn the switch again. I still want to play football, but I don’t dare think about the World Cup yet,” says the 34-year-old footballer from Valkenswaard in the run-up to Friday’s World Cup qualifier against Ireland.
Van de Donk looks back on one of the toughest seasons of her career at the Dutch team. With both the Dutch national team and her employer London City Lionesses, she was injured more often than she could play. Due to various injuries she was thrown back again and again. “Mentally it was very tough,” sighs the midfielder. “I hardly feel like I have played football this season. At times I just couldn’t do it anymore. Then I could only cry. My mother sometimes said: ‘Stop it, girl’. She also felt sorry for me.”
Called up for the Dutch National Team
The 172-time international managed to get back on his feet and still played for half an hour for London City Lionesses at the end of the season. A call from national coach Arjan Veurink for the Dutch team felt like a welcome reward. “Once I felt the ball at my feet again, it was so good. I am happy on the field. The sadness is gone,” says Van de Donk, who has another year under contract in London. “Kicking a ball. Scoring goals. Giving an assist. Being important for my club and the Dutch team. That’s what I want.”
Van de Donk has learned through many physical setbacks not to look far ahead anymore. For example, the Football World Cup in 2027 is still far too far away for her. “I’m looking at my next match. Playing that is my goal,” she explains. “I’m really not busy with the World Cup right now.”
‘Bonus for being with the Dutch team’
She still feels like one of the leaders in the Dutch national team. Although she has seen that a new dynamic has emerged under Veurink. “It feels like a bonus to be with the Dutch team now,” said Van de Donk. “It’s nice to see that this is a real team. I also saw that from the side during the last two games against France. There is good energy. They train hard. Nobody complains. I would have understood it if Veurink had not called me up. Fortunately, he did. I still want to be part of the Dutch team, but it has to be possible. If I experience another season like this, I can of course forget about the World Cup.”
World Cup preparation
The Oranjeleeuwinnen are currently preparing for two World Cup qualifiers. The first is on Friday evening (June 5) away against Ireland, the other on Monday (June 9) at home against Poland.
The Football World Cup will take place in Brazil in 2027. Van de Donk and Oranje failed in the group stage at the previous European Championship.