UEFA European Championship

Netherlands: Women’s Euros 2022 profile

1 year ago

| BY News Team

Defending champions, Netherlands had never reached a major final until Euro 2017 when they lifted the trophy on home soil. They soon dispelled any notion that home advantage played a big part in that success, by finishing as runners-up in the 2019 World Cup.

Make no mistake: this is a seriously-talented squad and one of the favourites to retain the trophy this summer.

The Dutch were impeccable at the back in 2017, conceding just three times and winning every game along the way to the title – including sweeping aside England in the semi-finals.

While the core of that side has remained in place, they do now have a new manager at the helm after the brilliant Sarina Wiegman decided to leave last year.

What was Netherlands’ Women’s Euro 2022 Qualifying Record?

Group A Winners: P10 W10 D0 L0 GF48 GA3 GD+45 Pts30

Estonia 0 – 7 Netherlands

Netherlands 3 – 0 Turkey

Slovenia 2 – 4 Netherlands

Netherlands 2 – 0 Russia

Turkey 0 – 8 Netherlands

Netherlands 4 – 1 Slovenia

Russia 0 – 1 Netherlands

Netherlands 7 – 0 Estonia

Kosovo 0 – 6 Netherlands

Netherlands 6 – 0 Kosovo

Top Scorer: Sherida Spitse (10)

Who is Netherlands’ head coach at Euro 2022?

Englishman Mark Parsons became Netherlands’ head coach in 2021, after Sarina Wiegman decided to end her five-year reign – by accepting a new job as manager of England’s Lionesses.

Parsons is a young coach but has a fine pedigree, having managed the Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns in America’s NWSL.

Who is Netherlands’ captain at Euro 2022?

Sari van Veenendaal is Netherlands’ captain and goalkeeper. She was simply outstanding at the 2019 World Cup, with a string of inspirational performances that earned her the FIFA Goalkeeper of the Year award.

Arguably the best women’s goalkeeper in the world, Van Veenendaal has recently returned to her native PSV after successful spells with Arsenal and Atletico Madrid.

Who are Netherlands’ star players to watch out for at Euro 2022?

The Netherlands’ squad is packed with talent but one of the most exciting players on the global stage is the Arsenal striker Vivianne Miedema. Miedema is the Netherlands’ all-time top scorer across both men’s and women’s international football, although has recently dropped deeper to play as a more creative number 10 than a pure finisher.

Midfielder Sherida Spitse was the Netherlands’ top-scorer during qualifying, and Manchester United’s Jackie Groenen acts as the midfield playmaker.

Watch out too for the Barcelona winger Lieke Martens who was on the scoresheet in the final when Netherlands last won the Euros. Martens has over 100 caps for her country and was named as the Best FIFA Women’s Player in 2017.