On a sweltering evening in Sheffield, the old Bramall Lane stadium was the setting for a film with a denouement that left the protagonists recovering shortly after the game: the disbelief was visible on the faces of the Dutch football players. As they spoke to the press, cheers were heard from the accompanying fans who were waiting for the team at the bus. Their patience had been put to the test, until the Netherlands rolled over the Swiss in a crazy last fifteen minutes, with fresh guns from the bank. The result of the final offensive: 4-1.
It was the evening when the new Orange finally showed its face, with a mixture of veterans and young talent. Although national coach Mark Parsons initially reverted to his trusted basic setup against Switzerland, with Aniek Nouwen, who has recovered from an ankle injury, and Jackie Groenen, back after a positive corona infection.
After a mediocre first half, in which both teams kept each other in balance, the battle broke out in the second half. It was Luana Bühler who helped the Netherlands in the saddle by heading the ball into his own goal after a bet by Stefanie van der Gragt from a corner by Sherida Spitse. The Netherlands could enjoy the lead for five minutes before Switzerland equalized.
Orange even escaped a backlog, thanks to Daphne van Domselaar, who played a heroic role. “I don’t say it quickly, but I think I have been important today,” said the young keeper afterwards. „Whether I have kept the Netherlands in the European Championship? I do not know. If we hadn’t scored those four goals, things could have turned out differently.”
The Netherlands owed those goals to Victoria Pelova and Romée Leuchter, who crowned her European Championship debut with two hits. “I didn’t even expect to get in. I had to warm up, but yes, I do that often. And now here I am, perhaps the night of my life,” says Leuchter.
Despite the inexperience, most youngsters do not seem to have any nerves. Esmee Brugts was allowed to make playing minutes again in her eighth international match. She drove her direct opponent crazy and with her open-mindedness and flamboyant style she is well on her way to become the new public favorite of Orange.
That open-mindedness is the strength of the team, says Kerstin Casparij, who was also allowed to fill in again. “Girls are just eager to get in,” Casparij said. “Everyone is full of energy on the couch, ready to fill in. You feel that.”
In terms of the number of international matches to their name – Van Domselaar played four, Casparij eleven, Brugts eight – they are still miles away from experienced players such as Spitse (205), Daniëlle van de Donk (129) and Dominique Janssen (87). There are no crooked faces. “I think it’s nice for the girls who come in, that they can finally show how good they are,” says Janssen.
Month-long process
Forming a unity within the team was preceded by a months-long process. Experienced players indicated that it was up to them to lead the youngsters through the tournament. “We have a role as a mentor”, Vivianne Miedema said during the preparation in Zeist. She also said that there is a lot of respect for the young girls and that it is a good sign that new talent is flowing. “The level of this group is higher than ten years ago.”
“We support them because we have more experience,” said Spitse in the run-up to the game against Switzerland. “But how they handle it themselves is also clever.” It had given Parsons, in his own words, “goosebumps” at how the old-timers had taken on this role. “In February they said ‘this is the new reality’. They have sat down with players to share their experiences and give advice, even if they play in the same position.”
The professionalization of women’s football has ensured that the step for a new generation to enter at the highest level is smaller than before. Players in Orange youth teams are receiving more and more attention and the organization around it is comparable to that of the national team. “We all know each other very well already,” says Casparij. “That creates a bond.”
Miedema is missing
Reaching the quarterfinals is also the achievement of a team that did not let itself be discouraged by the departure of the injured captain Sari van Veenendaal, the injury of Aniek Nouwen and the corona infections at the Groenen and top scorer Vivianne Miedema – the latter is still in custody. always in isolation. “We will undoubtedly have made her proud,” said Groenen about Miedema, who, just like in the match against Portugal last Wednesday, was also missing against Switzerland. “But I know how much it hurts to watch.”
With a place in the quarterfinals, there is a good chance that Miedema will still be in action. In that quarterfinal, which will be played on Saturday, July 23 in Rotherham, France awaits. That team made a strong impression at this European Championship and was already certain of the first place in group D after two games. The new Orange faces a tough task.
A version of this article also appeared in the newspaper of July 18, 2022