Well, seems Feyenoord has ambitions coming season. https://www.feyenoordpings.nl/feyenoord-strikt-jeugdinternational-een-van-de-grotere-talenten/ Feyenoord catches youth international: "One of the bigger talents" 01 Jun 18:37 by Noah source: Feyenoord The women of Feyenoord have strengthened themselves with Ziva Henry. The 19-year-old youth international will come over from Ajax in the new season and will sign a contract until mid-2025. https://www.feyenoord.nl/nieuws/nieuwsoverzicht/persbericht-ziva-henry-010623 18688
Another thing regarding the Feyenoord women is that they get a "CAO", a collective labour agreement. https://www.feyenoordpings.nl/feyenoord-vrouwen-1-krijgt-cao-volgende-stap-in-professionalisering/ Feyenoord is, after Ajax, PSV and FC Twente the 4th club with a taylor made labour agreement, which gives players the conditions and rights that fall under an employment contract. This includes salaries, vacation days, continued payment during long-term injuries or unforeseen absenteeism.
Apparently, on a Spotify episode of Helden, de podcast, Groenen said that Skinner didn't give her permission to say a final goodbye to her United teammates before leaving for PSG. I don't understand Dutch at all, but that's what I've seen online.
Interview with Vivianne Miedema about who should fill her boots in the World Cup 2023: https://www.soccernews.nl/news/vivianne-miedema-onthult-vervanger-bij-oranje-leeuwinnen/
FIFA has announced a new payday system for the Worldcup for women. Each player in the group stage receives 30,000 US$, and that amount goes up each round your team survives and in the end each of the players of the world champion has netted a whopping 270,000 US$.
Somewhat surprisingly Romee Leuchter one of the first to have been sent home. Should increase Snoeij's chance of making the cut I would think(?)...
Why was she sent home? Hurt---or just cut from the squad, which would be surprising. I like Snoeij; she is not a typical striker--not especially big or surpassingly athletic--but she has a knack for putting the ball in the net.
Arjen Robben visited the Orange Lionesses who could ask questions. https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetba...ord-je-zon-loser-die-alles-verliest~a863bf2d/ I only had one thing on my mind: no matter what happens, we're just going to win today. That's really the most important thing." Robben also gave the players of the Netherlands tips. "If you start thinking 'shit, the World Cup final, maybe I'll never experience this again', you're already wrong. You know what to do, you know what you can do. Because when you're this far along in a tournament, you know what makes you strong. Go do that. You have to think: 'yes, today we make sure we become world champions. Or that we get to the final or semi-final.' That draws the best, the strongest. When it comes down to it, do exactly the right thing. Because they know: I'm good at that. If you go out on the field with poop in your pants, you might as well stay inside."
Don't go on the field with poop in your pants! I love that line! I have been thinking about The Netherlands vs. the U.S., which I think is the second group game for the Dutch. Sophia Smith, the super-talented U.S. forward, will likely give the Dutch all kinds of problems. She might be the best forward in the game right now. She is an excellent dribbler--super quick with the ball--and an equally excellent shooter. She shoots early (rather than late all the time, like Beerensteyn), often hitting the ball with pace across goal. Neither Van der Gragt nor Janssen will be able to defend her 1v1 in space, and the outside backs will have the same problem. The outside back on her side of the field will have to play cautiously and not get too far forward, and she and a centerback will need to be positioned to defend Smith. Trinity Rodman, another U.S. forward with pace and quickness, could also create problems. It's going to be a tough game for the Dutch because the U.S. is more dynamic and dangerous up front.
Much discussed Orange Lionesses match against 18 yo boys team took place, because the coach wanted to play against a team that forces the Lionesses to defend. https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetba...en-oefenwedstrijd-tegen-jongensteam~aa7dadb7/
https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/1361...ns-volewijkers-onder-18-in-veelbesproken-duel Another article reporting on the practice game.
Kika van Es has played her last duel as a football star. The 77-fold International (31) was dropped from the pre-selection of national coach Andries Jonker for the World Cup. She already announced last month to stop after the World Cup. In addition to Van Es, Tiny Hoekstra (Ajax) also doesnot make part of the preselection. Earlier, Leuchter from Ajax and Tuin of Fortuna Sittard were removed . From The 26 remaining players 3 more lhave to be removed. Jonker this friday will announce the final selection. 19933
Doesn't it seem a bit harsh to release players one or a couple at a time rather than just name the final selection? Nobody wants to be the first one or two to be told to go home--it's embarrassing, I would think. I guess if you know a couple are not going to make it, are undecided about others and want a slightly smaller squad for the last few days of training and evaluation, it might make sense--but it seems a bit unusual to let players go in this manner.
Dropping proven goal scorers such as Leuchter and Hoekstra is kind of weird. This team is going to have trouble scoring and they could get cruelly exposed by the US. There is a lot of age on this roster which is more impactful in the women's game.
Smith definitely has a superb low shot from outside the box in her repertoire, and you can see how good her dribbling is in both her hat trick matches (i.e., her second goal vs Kansas City and her first vs Washington). Rodman is similarly great but a bit less refined/consistent. Also have to defend well against Morgan's final ball/cross attempts; she's been underrated in my opinion when it comes to chance creation/creativity her whole career. Janssen does concern me vs the US, but the Dutch can't field anyone else. Equally concerned about Wilms (that clearance into Hendrich for Rolfo's winning goal was bad but not entirely surprising), but maybe Jonker actually will go with Brugts at LB/LWB at the World Cup. Or he might go with Casparij on the left and Pelova at RWB (something he did when Groenen was out vs Germany and Poland).
Yep: The Dutch back four do not match up well with the U.S. forwards. It is Smith who, IMO, gives the U.S. the chance to repeat as WC champs. Wilms has got a lot of good playing time with Wolfsburg, and she's got qualities and has improved--but Casparij, who didn't play that much for ManCity I don't think, is a better athlete, and I would hope to see her and Brugts at the outside back positions. If I were coaching against the U.S. I would focus defensively on closely marking Smith at all times--with an outside whenever possible--and try to keep her from getting the ball, because she's dangerous when she gets it with a little space. She had two/three first-class goals against Washington a few days ago. And you are right about Morgan: A number of analysts seem to be writing her off as old, but she remains a good, intelligent player, and she can make some smart passes in and around the box. The Dutch should relish the test. It would be nice to have Miedema--as I don't have much confidence in Beerensteyn--but they'll have to cope. RE Manchester United, what's the word on how they're going to replace Russo and Batlle? Tough losses. Arsenal seem poised to sign Russo, as I'm sure you know.
Agreed on Casparij and Brugts at outside back. Looking at FBref, Casparij played a lot the first half of the WSL season, but then, in the second half, she went through periods of regularly playing and playing very few minutes. She totaled 12.9 full 90s in the end (17 matches, 13 starts). For reference, Groenen totaled 11.1 full 90s in D1 Arkema (17 matches, 14 starts). Smith's first against Washington was absolutely ridiculous, and her other two goals were quality finishes. Morgan's assist vs OL Reign was quality, and her pass for Ali's late chance (PK on Barnes?) was really good. Big miss from her 1v1 against Tullis-Joyce though. Regarding Russo, United have apparently shown concrete interest in both Kerolin (North Carolina Courage) and Geyse (Barcelona). I haven't seen any real rumor yet regarding Batlle, but United signed Riviere in the winter transfer window. She essentially didn't play at all, but I'd assume she'd be an outside back starter opposite Blundell next season.
Isa Kardinaal missed a bunch of Ajax matches because of injury but did come back She is playing at the U-19 level but I won't be surprised to see her move up to the senior team at right back in the not to distant future. Ajax have to play in the qualification rounds and let's hope they progress this year as that would be good for her development.
Tks for the Casparij info---she played more than I thought. Kerolin would be an excellent pickup--she's been outstanding this season.
Happy to see Snoeijs make the final WC squad--and interesting that young forward Kalma, along with Leuchter previously, was dropped. I also note that Brugts was named as a forward and not a defender. Does that mean that Jonker has opted to move her back into attack rather than have her at outside back, where she's been playing for the NT in recent matches? Certainly, the Dutch need some young talent up front. If that's the case, it would seem to mean that Wilms and Casparij will be the starting outside backs--we'll see. Meanwile, Renate Jansen, age 32, has earned a spot again. She has skills, to be sure, but she's not terribly dynaic and has never got any significant playing time in big tourneys. You'd hope that some genuine young scoring talent would have supplanted her by now, but it didn't happen.
They had to make place for players coming back from vacation. Some players already knew that's the only reason they were there for (Tuin definitely one of those). Leuchter is a type similar to most of the forwards in the team, basically Jonker opted for one back-up in every position (probably why Kaptein surprisingly made the cut as well) . Renate Jansen and Snoeij's the back-up forwards I resumé (Snoeij's for Beerensteijn and Jansen for Martens I would think). Also Casparij could be used in central defense vs the USA to have some speed in there [emoji28].
Dutch playing a very poor Belgium team right now. 3-0 at the half with a missed PK (van der Gragt). Hardly being tested at all.
Match against Belgium ends at 5-0. Goals by Marens, Spitse (PK), Berensteyn, Pelova and Snoeijs. van de Gragt missed from the spot in the first half. Dutch played a 3-1-4-2 with Spitse, van de Gragt, and D Janssen in the back with Groenen more of a libero the way Rijkaard used to play. Wingers were Brugts and Pelova with Roord and van de Donk in the middle. Martens and Berensteyn were the two attackers. It was an effective tactic and Belgium were pressed very hard but in truth were not very good.
It seems a good attacking formation against weaker/mediocre teams--a strong midfield--but not sure if it would work against, say, the U.S. Spitse as a right-side centerback having to defend Sophia Smith? That would be a bad matchup for the Dutch.
1) I thought Wieke Kaptein was really good in her cameo. Dijkstra was excellent too. 2) Damaris-Groenen was better than Groenen-Roord. Not seeing Groenen constantly moving around the pitch with her runs before the Damaris-Roord sub was a bit disappointing. 3) Pelova seems to be in a rich vein of form. She was a handful all match. 4) Janssen, Van der Gragt, and Spitse all have great long ball deliveries, and they were constantly looking to play over the top or switch the point of attack.