The Netherlands - Oranje Leeuwinnen & Eredivisie

Jonker and his staff will have to make some tough decisions about formation and how to start as the Euros approach. A lot of good players and potential. Don't think Casparij was even on the roster today, was she? Hope she's ok. Maybe just a rest as she has played a lot of soccer lately for ManCity.

 

Damaris is a key player for OL(a bit of a metronome and good defense). Isn't she a key player for the Dutch national team? Because sometimes i see she doesn't play in her NT...

 

Well, she's always played when fit; she often hasn't started though. That Denmark match was the last Dutch match before Damaris' recent injury. Yesterday was the first Dutch match after her injury. It does seem like Jonker has decided to invest in the Groenen-Damaris pivot, which is something that I've promoted for a while. Damaris will be important to any Dutch success at Euro 2025.

 

Demaris is a key player, solid defender, good size---and has a knack for scoring on headers, as she did yesterday, which is a valuable quality. She certainly has started some games for the NT, as she did yesterday, and been a reserve in other matches. The Dutch have some good/very good mids, so how it shakes out come the Euros we'll have to see what Jonker decides. Certainly, Groenen will start, and I think so will Kaptein, who is young and impressive and getting a lot of playing time with Chelsea, which seems to be the one of the two best teams in Europe. Then there is Roord--a good passer, definite scoring threat, someone who is going to be the team's attacking mid.

After those three you've got 25-year-old Demaris and 33-year-old Van de Donk perhaps competing for midfield spots--and maybe, too, Pelova, who is very talented with the ball, good attacking player but I'd say an average defender.

I lot depends on how Jonker sets up the team in games. In this first game against Austria he played a 3-4-3 and so Demaris was a starter along with Roord, Groenen and Kaptein. Will he stick with three in the back? Don't know. It meant not playing Casparij, who's a good, athletic fullback and starter for ManCity. He could go back to a 4-3-3, in which case Jonker would have to drop one of the CBs, probably--either Burmann or Djikstra---and then maybe Casparij is in the lineup and Demaris goes to the bench. I suspect the lineup will depend on the opponent once we get to the Euros.

Have we seen the last of Van de Donk as a starter for the NT? She's been excellent for a long time, super work rate, good passer, along with Groenen she covers most of the field defensively. But she's certainly in the last stage of her career now, and Jonker may opt to slot her into a reserve role. I've been a bit disappointed in her lack of offensive production for the Dutch in recent years--but she does have 5 goals for Lyon this season. Jonker may change the lineup in the next match against Austria, and we may see DVD start.

 

The Dutch were pretty ragged in the first half against Austria. The Austrians pressed and were aggressive, and they bothered the Dutch a bit, who really struggled at times to get the ball forward. A lot of back-passing generally and to Van Domselaar, a few weak panicky passes--two or three of which (one by Demaris) were picked off in the defensive third and led to decent/good shooting/scoring chances for Austria. At times the Dutch needed to beat a mark and carry the ball forward instead of going backwards all the time. Roord finally did it at one point and had a lot of open field. Brugts often had space on the left flank but IMO didn't get the ball enough. For me it's been true for a while: I don't think they Dutch are getting enough out of her in attack.

Perhaps because she is defensively oriented and doesn't do much in attack, doesn't see too much of the ball, Demaris is a quiet player--not very conspicuous. I sometimes think that, like Brugts, she should be more influential. I think of her as a dependably solid role player.

 

I hope Miedema hasn't reinjured her knee. She scored a terrific goal--just blasting one in from the wing--and moments later seemed to land heavily on one of her legs and immediately stopped playing and went to the ground. Jonker said that she grabbed for her hamstring--but a Dutch article quoted him as saying, after the match, "I'm worried," five times. That is not encouraging--and he also said that Miedema looked worried. She did. It would be horrible for her given how she's had to have a surgery and then two followup procedures of some kind before her knee seemed to finally heal properly--and she's only been back and fit again for a few weeks after a long absence.For the Dutch to lose Miedema for the Euros would be devastating, given her goal-scoring talents. I've seen multiple players suffer ACL injuries by coming down the way Miedema did today--a bit off-balance one foot landing and then the other landing afterward a bit hard and awkwardly. Let's hope it's not the knee.

While Beerensteyn has been in form and scoring goals quit nicely for club and country for several months, she reminded us today of why she's no Viv and can be frustrating at times with her decision-making. She got the ball on the flank with space a few times today and often tried to dribble through multiple defenders when there were opportunities to slot the ball to trailing attackers--including Brugts at the 37/38' mark. She often gets fixated on trying to create a scoring chance for herself and doesn't look for trailers.

Nice to see Pelova on the pitch, moving well and getting extended minutes after her injury layoff. Van de Donk was lively today in her 62' minutes or so---all over the field, very active, and scored a goal on a rebound off a Pelova shot that hit the post. Van der Zanden started a CB alongside the 34-year-old Spitse. I wasn't familiar with her--I think it was only her 2nd international appearance for the Dutch. I thought she was young; nope, turns out she's 29. I thought she played well: not very tall but moves well, very active and competitive, physical with her challenges, and seemed to be in the right defensive spot most of the match. Well done to her. I was glad Wilms got some minutes. Not sure what Kaptein's injury is: she looked like she was limping slightly walking off the field at halftime and seemed to be testing her right foot/leg around a bit at the start of the second half. Fingers cross that her injury, and those of and Van Domselaar and Miedema, are minor.

 

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KNVB chooses assistant to Wiegman as Jonker's successor
The KNVB presented the new coach of the Dutch women's national team on Tuesday.
Arjan Veurink (38) will be the successor of Andries Jonker after the European Championship next summer.
He signs a contract for four years.

The football association has chosen to work with Veurink. The former head coach of FC Twente's women's team previously worked at the Orange Lionesses as an assistant to Sarina Wiegman and has also played that role with the English women's team since 2021. As an assistant national coach, Veurink was involved in the European Championship win of the Orange in 2017 and that of England in 2022.
Now he has to lead the national women's team to new successes himself. It feels like a logical next step in his career for him.
'I have never made a secret of the fact that I at a given time wanted to be responsible for the Dutch national team,' says Veurink on the website of the KNVB. 'With more than eight years of experience at the highest level as Sarina Wiegman's right-hand man, first with the Netherlands and now in England, I am ready to stand on my own two feet. The fact that this opportunity is now occurring in the Netherlands makes it extra special.'
'Arjan has a rich history in women's football and has experienced the developments that international women's football has undergone up close and personal in the past fifteen years. He knows what is required at the absolute top, but also knows how important it is to keep the connection with the base', says director of top football Nigel de Jong. 'We are therefore happy that he wants to take on the challenge. I look forward to working together and to continue building on the success of the Orange Lionesses together.'

 

PSV eliminates Feyenoord and plays cup final against FC Twente.

PSV Women will play the cup final against FC Twente. The Eindhoven team won the semi-final against Feyenoord on Tuesday evening, thanks to goals from Renate Jansen, Fenna Kalma and Shanique Dessing. On Saturday, Twente already won 1-5 against the amateurs of Saestum. The final between Twente and PSV will be played on May 10 at Het Kasteel.

 

Daphne van Domselaar should be able to make it to coming summer's European Championships. The goalkeeper of the Orange Lionesses suffered an ankle injury in the last international period. What the damage is exactly is unclear, but according to Arsenal coach Renée Slegers, Van Domselaar is out of action for a maximum of six weeks. 'That's if we think broadly. But maybe she'll be back sooner.'

The European Championship starts for the Orange Lionesses on July 5, against Wales.
Andries Jonker's team will also meet England (July 9) and France (July 13) in the group stage.

 

15/04
At Ajax, Jade van Henselbergen (18) and Isa Kardinaal (20) have extended their contracts. The duo will remain with the Amsterdam club until 2029 and 2027 respectively.

15/04
Jaimy Ravensbergen (24) will stay at FC Twente for a while. The top scorer of the Eredivisie has extended her contract with De Tukkers. The striker has signed until mid-2027. This season, Ravensbergen was good for eighteen goals in the league. She has been playing for the club from Enschede since 2023, although she did not make her debut until 2024 due to a knee injury. A day earlier, there was also good news in Twente. Inge Tijink also signed a contract until 2027 and will be a player of Twente again from next season. The 25-year-old goalkeeper returns to the club she exchanged for PEC Zwolle in 2023.

 

This is the 'very smart' new coach of the Orange Lionesses: 'Coincidence does not exist with him'

Numerous foreign top clubs in women's football have been eyeing his services in recent years, but only now is Arjan Veurink (38) stepping out of Sarina Wiegman's shadow again. He will be the new national coach of the Orange Lionesses. "Perfectionist? Maybe too much."

From what I (fsf) understand, he just recently completed his top coaching study and thus just recently got his top coaching licence.

 

So you like the hire? It's certainly a logical hire given his many years as Wiegman's top assistant and his familiarity with so many of the Dutch players. He will be the coach to truly usher in the next generation Dutch NT.

 

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Vivianne Miedema gave a positive medical update in her column in the Algemeen Dagblad on Wednesday. The attacker suffered a hamstring injury two weeks ago in the Nations League that keeps her on the sidelines for the time being. In the English media, a question mark was even put behind her European Championship participation with the Dutch women's national team next summer. Now she has given a definite answer herself. 'In any case, the European Championship is not in danger.'

 

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Orange Under-17 Lionesses crowned European champion

Orange Under-17 Lionesses was crowned European champion on Saturday evening. The team of national coach Sherida van Bruggen was too strong for the peers of Norway in the final on the Faroe Islands: 2-1.

The Dutch Under-17 team was in the group with host country Faroe Islands, Norway and Austria and became the clear group winner by winning all three matches. Of the group with Italy, France, Spain and Poland, no country made it to the final, partly because the Netherlands won in the semi-final on penalties against the French football players.
In the final, the Dutch took the lead after just three minutes. Tess van der Vliet was put away and scored after an excellent through ball from Anne Gelevert. Later in the second half, striker Ranneke Derks controlled a high cross and shot in the 2-0.

After the break, Norway, of which the Dutch had already won 2-0 in the group, did something back through Marie Preus, who went around the keeper and scored. The Netherlands had more of the ball, created more chances and eventually deservedly took the win.
Thus, the Orange Under-17 somewhat surprisingly wins the European Championship.

 

Women FC Twente prolong national title on exciting final day

FC Twente prolonged the national title in the Women's Eredivisie on Saturday afternoon. On the exciting final day, PSV was on course for a long time to create a sensation, but in the end Twente still grabbed the title through a late goal by Jaimy Ravensbergen.

The differences in the Azerion Women's Eredivisie were even smaller than in the men's league prior to the last round of play.
Twente and PSV had the same number of points after 21 matches, the ladies from Enschede had the advantage thanks to a better goal difference (+5). However, that turned out to be worth little when AZ scored twice in the first nine minutes. First, Karlijn Woons headed in, then Desiree van Lunteren escaped the defense.
The tension only increased further in Enschede. In the last fifteen league matches, Twente only squandered two points, but now that the pressure was at its highest, it threatened to go wrong. Hopes were pinned on goalgetter Ravensbergen. Initially, the club's top scorer missed a dot of a chance, but just before halftime she shot diagonally. And in the 59th minute, with a bit of luck, she also signed for the equalizer.

PSV
Given the score in Eindhoven, that was still not enough for the national title, because PSV took the lead against Feyenoord after ten minutes through Shanique Dessing. The Rotterdam visitors quickly did something back through Mao Itamura, but just before halftime, Dessing helped the home team take the lead again. PSV was therefore virtually in the lead again, but keeper Nicky Evrard had to thank after the break that Feyenoord did not come alongside. It could have gone either way in the final stages. In Enschede, AZ substitute Romaissa Boukakar hit the crossbar via keeper Daniëlle de Jong, so that the 2-3 did not come. Shortly afterwards, Feyenoord goalkeeper Jacintha Weimar kept PSV from taking a bigger lead with the help of the aluminum on an attempt by Sisca Folkertsma. Shortly afterwards, the chances turned completely again, when PSV defender Emma Frijns shot the ball into her own goal in her own way (2-2).

Hat-trick

The atmosphere in Enschede changed completely in a positive way at that moment and only got better when Ravensbergen completed her hat-trick seven minutes before time from a penalty, which was awarded for hands by Jasmijn van Uden. Twente was therefore suddenly back on course for the title and this time did not give up the championship, PSV's 3-2 did not change that. With that, the tenth national title is a fact.

 

Super title win for the U17 Dutch. They were rather fortunate to beat France--but it's always risky when you struggle to convert possession into quality chances and goals. We some of that in this match as well: The Dutch were significantly better than Norway, dominated the ball and were in the attacking third most of the match. They Netherlands got a nicely worked goal early in the match to take the lead, and then scored a second near the end of the first half--but had they had a bit more cutting edge could have scored three or four goals. Still, two proved enough for the victory. Norway scored in the second half to make it interesting and put some pressure on the Dutch late, but The Netherlands managed to see out the game and take home the European championship.

 

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The Dutch women's national team will lose assistant coaches Arvid Smit and Janneke Bijl to the English Football Association.
After next summer's European Championships, they will make the switch. Smit started his job as an assistant in 2019. Bijl has fulfilled that role since 2022. They have already worked with England national coach Sarina Wiegman in the past and are now reunited with her. They will therefore not work under the new national coach of Orange Arjan Veurink.

 

Wieke Kaptein has put the crown on the already beautiful season with Chelsea.
After the league title and League Cup, the nineteen-year-old player also seized the FA Cup on Sunday. In the final battle, Dominique Janssen's Manchester United was convincingly defeated (3-0). Kaptein came in fifteen minutes before the end and provided the assist on the third Chelsea goal, which was in the name of Sandy Baltimore.
All in all, Kaptein, the youngest World Cup participant ever of the Netherlands, had a successful debut season with The Blues, which only missed out on the Champions League. Barcelona was much too strong in the semi-final over two matches.

 

Feyenoord will continue with coach Jessica Torny, who has extended her expiring contract until mid-2027. She has been active in Rotterdam since the beginning of 2023, when she took over from Sandra van Tol. For Torny it is her first job as a head coach in professional football, this season Feyenoord is fifth.

 

News from Heerenveen, where Bernice Thurkow and Iris Teijema have decided to quit professional football. They played 8 and 52 matches respectively in the Eredivisie Women. In addition to these two, six more players are leaving SC Heerenveen: Marit Speek, Sanne van der Velde, Chantal Schouwstra, Dewi Snippe, Ilse van Rheenen and Demi Werther.

Ajax is bringing in an experienced midfielder with Nurija van Schoonhoven. She comes over from FC Utrecht and signs in Amsterdam until mid-2028. Van Schoonhoven (27), born in Russia, played more than a hundred matches in the Women's Eredivisie. She is also a youth international of the Netherlands, she played with the Netherlands Under-19 at two European Championships and with the Orange Under-20 at the World Cup.

 

Dutch international Lynn Wilms is transfer-free after this season. The right back of VfL Wolfsburg will leave the club after the end of her contract. Wilms has been playing in Germany since 2021, Wolfsburg took her over from FC Twente that year. In Germany, she became champion and won several cups. She also played with Wolfsburg in the Champions League final. The full-back played her fiftieth international match for the Orange Lionesses this year.

 

Vivianne Miedema has a chance to win a prize. The ex-striker of Arsenal received a nomination for Most Beautiful Goal of the Season as a player of Manchester City.

 

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Shanice van de Sanden returns to the Orange Lionesses. The player from Pachuca is part of the selection for the final Nations League matches. On Friday, March 30, the Dutch will visit Germany, Tuesday, June 3, a home game against Scotland awaits. Van de Sanden was last part of the selection of the Dutch national team in February.

 

I only just now read that DVD is retiring from the National Team after the Euros. I must have missed the news--which is think is somewhat old now, yes? It makes sense. She's 33 and I don't think she'll be starting for the Dutch, will she? I guess it depends on the lineup--but I figure Kaptein is going to feature in the midfield along with Groenen and Roord--if the latter is healthy. Maybe she starts as a wing if Jonker plays the 3-5-2. Will have to see what he does, and let's hope Roord and Pelova are healthy.

 

Sorry to see Fortuna Sittard folding their women's team. Good news for Excelsior, as their relegation to the 15-team Vrouwen Eerste Divisie seems to be cancelled. Nobody's done up a wiki on this second-step league. Off to Google I go.

ETA: (till nothing, except that Groningen will join, making it 16.