The Netherlands 2019

I saw the article on Bloodworth on Arseblog. That is a good site--I have seen it before but not read much on it--and he did an excellent job with that piece. Well done. I'm interested to see where other Dutch players end up as I read that Groenen is leaving Frankfurt, and Van Veenendaal needs to find a new club as well. Someone here reported that Roord might be headed to Arsenal. That might be a nice switch for her--but would she play more for Arsenal than she did for BM? She wouldn't start, that's for sure. Hope they all find good situations for them!

 

Roord might very well enjoy the situation at Arsenal--very good coach, very good team, plus two other Dutch NT teammates on the squad--but otherwise seems a bit of an odd move by both her and the Gunners, IMO.

In other news, the U17 women's team beat Spain today in the Euro19 semifinal, 3-1, and will now face Germany for the title. The two faced each other a few days ago in the group stage, with The Netherlands winning that match, 3-2.

I saw the first 40 minutes of today's game and the Dutch looked pretty dire--Spain dominated possession and had a couple of decent/good chances that they failed to convert while the Dutch sat back mostly and struggled to keep the ball. It seemed apparent that if the Dutch were going to win, it would have to be off of counter-attacks, and that is pretty much what happened.

I took a break and came back at the 61' mark and the Dutch were leading 2-0! Couldn't believe it. The Netherlands scored first, late in the first half, against the run of play, off a Dutch goal kick. A Spanish player flicked the ball back toward her own goal and De Keijzer, a forward, beat two defenders to the ball, managed to get in front of them and then cooly slotted her shot past the Spanish keeper for the 1-0 lead. At the 60' mark, the Dutch pushed forward, with forward Brughts controlling the ball around the top of the 18-yard box. She saw Stiekema break forward, lobbed the ball deftly toward her at the top of the 8-yard-box, and Stiekema managed to beat defensive pressure and flick the ball with her foot past the Spanish keeper for a surprising 2-0 lead.

Spain pressed for the next 20+ minutes but could not do much against the resilient, physical Dutch defense, and then around the 83' mark or so the scoring star Troop burst down the pitch on a counter, took a touch around the last defender and beat the keeper with an impressive finish to the far post to seal the victory. Spain scored in stoppage time to make the result a bit more respectable--and in truth Spain probably deserved a little better. Their wingers gave the Dutch outside backs (Abily and Van Deman) fits all day and sent a lot of crosses into the box, but Spain couldn't convert until it was too late. The Spaniards hit the crossbar twice--and had another shot nearly go in when it hit the inside of the left post and then roll all the way across the goal mouth. Whew! Great win. The final promises to be a tough, tight affair, and let's hope the Dutch U17s can win their first big Euro title.

 

I forgot to mention that De Keijzer went out with what may be a serious knee injury moments after she opened the scoring. After play was resumed, she challenged a Spain player with a little lunge, seemed to land awkwardly after bumping the opponent and her left knee (I think it was the left) buckled and she went down. She seemed in a lot of pain. I have to think she's hurt a ligament; best case, it might be a knee sprain, but she is surely out of the final. Tough luck for her.

 

The U17s lose in the Euro final to Germany on penalty kicks. It's too bad the Dutch couldn't bring the trophy home after having such a good tournament (and beating Germany in the group stage), but the players should be encouraged. The lost on PKs 3-2, having missed four straight to end the contest. That will get you beat every time--and let's hope the senior team works on PKs in training camp as it's very likely some matches will come down to them in the World Cup. I remember the Dutch men's NT losing to Argentina on PKs in, what, 2014? Sux. It's time to win on PKs.

In any case, Tromp is a player to watch--attacking midfielder who can score. I think she had 6 goals in the tourney (including one in the final): Saw her in the Spain win; she has a sturdy build, seems to have good ball skills and is a good finisher. After her I'm not sure who really stood out--maybe the forward Brugts (sp), who had a strong game against Spain.

 

I just read that ManU has signed Jackie Groenen. Or maybe I should say that the club intends to sign her, apparently, as it has announced that she has signed a "pre-contract agreement" to play for Manchester United next season. I'm not sure if it will be a one-year deal or more--I would hope at least two--but I think this is a good move for her and for ManU, and in fact I said recently that I thought ManU would be a good destination for some Dutch NT players who've been on other squads.

Is Beerensteyn staying at BM? Will be interesting to see what other moves happen. Van Veenendaal needs a new club, too.

 

The Dutch play Australia on Saturday in the last pre-WC match for both teams. It should be a tough test--assuming the starters on both sides play at least a half, if not longer--and one that The Netherlands needs, IMO, as it hasn't played any of the top WC contenders in quite a while. The team should benefit from playing a good, physical, athletic team like Australia, with a world-class forward like Kerr, and we should get a sense of how the centerbacks might hold up against top forwards in the tournament. I expect Van der Gragt to get quite a bit of playing time in this match, as she needs it if she is going to help defensively in the WC.

 

I have not seen anything yet. There is a Dutch network/service that streams their games but I think it is pay as I've looked into it in the past; I'll try and find the name. Fox Sports in Australia is broadcasting the game but I doubt I can get it here in America. There is another Australia service that will livestream the match--if you go to Mathildas.com you will find the name, but I get a sense it will require registration and/or pay. I'm going to check it out tomorrow as I very much want to see this game. I haven't had much luck with The Netherlands, which sux as I'm a fan: there were livestreams of the Dutch WC qualifying playoff matches with Denmark and Switzerland--but they were provided by the Danes and the Swiss!

 

Do say...I want to watch this match.

 

The Dutch don't have a lot of bench strength, to be sure, but I'd argue that bench strength is overrated in a tournament. Certainly, any favorite will want to get up by a goal or, preferably, two in the early group-stage matches and get some of your key players out at the 70' minute mark or so and keep them reasonably fresh. (You can bet that Elllis will be pulling Rapinoe and Heath early against Thailand and Chile, for example, and Wiegman will likewise want to rest Martens and Van de Sanden and someone else.) Then maybe you assess how to line up in game 3, which might determine whether you finish 1st or 2nd in the stage. If you have leads in group matches, you can bring in subs and still win. Certainly, Beerensteyn will get minutes at forward in the group stage for The Netherlands and they will lose little--she is talented. In the knockout stages you play your best players and see how the game unfolds.

This was just the match the Dutch needed--one against a good, strong, athletic team, and The Netherlands will draw confidence from it. It's a talented team. I loved that little effort play by Groenen to get the ball to Miedema for the second goal, and the finish was what we've come to expect from the Dutch striker. I had to smile after Van de Sanden missed that open header off the corner in the first half; Miedema was right beside her and in a position to head that ball herself, and I'm sure Miedema, for a second, had the thought: "If I'd taken that ball, we'd be up a goal." But then VDS more than made up for that miss with two outstanding finishes herself.

I hope Van Es has not broken her wrist--she is an important player for The Netherlands. But it was a very rash and overly aggressive challenge by her; she was not in a position to head the ball and shouldn't have gone charging into the Australia player--a bad decision. I think she was just too stoked to start the game. Let's hope she is not seriously hurt. It looked like she hurt both her head and her wrist.

 

Van Es has a broken bone in her left hand--a mentacarpal fracture. Not sure how severe and whether she'll be able to play in the WC. I think it is possible-- I've seen players on the pitch with a cast on a hand--but we'll have to wait and see.

One big positive for the Dutch today was that Van der Gragt played 80+ minutes at centerback. That was big as she needed real game time against a good opponent. She and Bloodworth could yet make an effective pairing in the back.