The Netherlands 2020

One of those collectible cards from a Dutch supermarket which I saw mentioned in the previous thread iirc [emoji16]. Last year I had Spitse and vd Gragt I believe but I don't really collect these; pretty much impossible to manage it all by yourself anyway for just buying groceries, since it only runs for a six week period and you only get 4 cards per 10 euro of shopping.

Point 3 of the analysis of the Dutch success is exactly what Wiegman is NOT working towards, but maybe it's just her saying what the public wants to hear. 'Dominate possession and play in typical Dutch fashion', in the end she is just pragmatic and wants to win no matter how. Introducing 'the modern transitioning game' into the women's game, at predominantly Euro 2017, was just by chance, not by design ('vision') at all.

 

watched a replay of the Netherlands/Russia qualifier from last October. The Russians should be the Dutch stongest opponents in group play, though personally feel their a bit overrated at FIFA ranked #19,as they lost two friendlies to the #25 Czech Rep., plus got whooped, 3-0 an WC qualifier last year by #45 Wales.
The pre game 'light' show as the players enter the stadium was fun to watch, don't know anybody else that goes through all that hoopla in all of woso. Unfortunately it was the highlight of the match as the Dutch get dragged down to a near standstill by Russia's 'park the bus' tactics, featuring a straight 5 line mid & 4 line back(basically to close down the passing lanes). Dealing with that, the Dutch prefered passing among themselves for long periods of time before launching cross kicks to their target players(mainly Miedema), though wishing they would of tried to penetrate more with a few dribble drive/give n go moves.
The Russians were able to mount enough cohesive attacks including a shot that hit the post, but mostly didn't have a final touch. Their best player was the #16(far right mid), she was able to steal the ball quite a few times but lacked speed.
Was Van Luterin last NT game?, but she got injured early & was well replaced by van der Most(who got the Miedema header assist)
So felt like it was a lackluster game from the Dutch against about the only decently ranked opponent. Don't expect a major return match as sadly, the Russians can't even make 4 figure attendance in their home matches.
Here's a link to replays to all the other Dutch qualifers
Clown Town - YouTube

 

Ha: I watched this game a few days ago and it /was/ a dreary contest, boring--but then most matches are when one team puts 10 behind the ball most of the night. It is ironic that Russia had the first good scoring chance (and hit the post) but they did nothing after that and the rest of the match was the Dutch passing it around for minutes at a time before trying a cross or give-and-go in the middle, which never worked. In games like this the superior team has to score in the first half or you'll have a tedious match. Nearly all of the Dutch qualifying matches are like this, I'm afraid. Parking the bus is not for fans, that's for sure.

 

A good interview with Danielle Van de Donk:

https://www.soccerbible.com/intervi...s-at-arsenal-her-ongoing-journey-in-the-game/

 

The Dutch in the 2016 games above were pretty hapless at times in the back. Kerkdijk seemed to be starting in those days at centerback--and she had some struggles. Melis seemed a good player--more than 100 caps, so yea--but has since retired and is in coaching, I read. Against Switzerland the Dutch started Dekker in the midfield and Groenen at forward!

Nearly all of today's core group was playing then, but still young. Miedema in '16 was what--19 years old? With a few more months of seasoning we saw what they became...Thanks for the highlights.

 

this friendly might of been right before the Kerkdijk got fired


lineups
Germany vs. Netherlands - 25 October 2016 - Women Soccerway

 

The team gets large and small crowds in different times. Guess it depends on the opposition or something was happening nearly the same time their game was being played. But they were getting popular at the time.

 

I'm assuming 2016 Netherlands has its ups and downs. Haven't seen all their games.

 

Yes, the group that's been the core of the team--Miedema, Martens, Van de Donk, Van de Saden, Groenen, Van Lunteren, Bloodworth--were all young(ish) and new, or relatively new, to the NT in 2016, I believe. I don't think most had not been on the squad for very long, and some were not starters early that year. Miedema was 19 in '16; Martens didn't start some NT matches that year, and the others were all just beginning to get some serious playing time, I think. It seems that by the end of the 2016 this group was all playing regularly and starting to get adjusted to high-competition international play. There were some problems in the back that year and then changes were made at the centerback position, which helped shore up the defense heading into 2017 and beyond. Right back Van Lunteren, who was very good at the World Cup, has since retired from the NT, at the still-young age of 27, I believe. She is still playing for Ajax so maybe there's a chance she'll return, though she's been dealing with colitis for years. She's left a pretty big hole to fill on the squad.

 

Nobody can take her place? Figure Netherlands would have invested in their youth when you have the current crop coming from their academies.

 

I believe Martens has been in the picture as a NT starter since around Euro 2013, and Martens, Miedema, van de Donk, and van Lunteren all started at WWC 2015. They were all still young and fairly new apart from Martens, but I don't think they were that inexperienced in 2016. Van de Sanden was primed to be the regular starter upon Melis' retirement, and I think Groenen took advantage of injuries to cement her place in the team just before Euro 2017. Bloodworth actually hardly played in Euro 2017, so she was the last of the names you mention to grab a consistent starting role on the NT.

 

Holland’s done real good lately in their youth programs—-female participation in soccer is an healthy 175K(which is on par with France a country with nearly four times the population)

Dutch have made it into the u19 Euro semifinals 3 of the last 4 times. Wiegman though been reluctant to push the younger players into her lineups

 

Van der Most did a really good job replacing van Lunterin in the Russian qualifier. Whats more concerning is the ailing play of van de Sanden; now only did Wiegman lose confidence in her in the late stages at WC, but her playing time at Lyon was limited to about 200 minutes for this entire season!

Wiegman’s best when preparing her squad for an major tournament. Perhaps she has a very strong training & conditioning regime that certainly worked wonders, but has had a harder time getting the best out of team during these ‘open window’ games throughout the rest of the year

 

Discussion who's the best, Martens or Miedema?
Use google translate if interested.
https://www.ad.nl/nederlands-voetba...l-miedema-met-de-fenomenale-cijfers~a48b89db/

 

And Scotland suppose to have some good players too.