Sarina Wiegman lowered her European Championship credentials after a 5-1 dismantling of the starter, the Netherlands, in her penultimate pre-tournament friendly. “I think there are a lot of favorites for this tournament, and we’re one of them,” he said ironically.
England had been forced to come out behind for the first time during Wiegman’s term, but Lucy Bronze scored Lieke Martens’ goal in the first half before Sherida Sptise scored from a penalty from outside the box. stick, waking up the lax local team. An instant response from Beth Mead a minute and a half after the penalty put England ahead before Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp scored in quick succession for the unbridled set and Mead added a fifth final.
Netherlands coach Mark Parsons said the 5-1 was “horrible to feel” and that he took responsibility for the heavy defeat. “It was a very difficult afternoon,” he said. “The only thing we wanted to avoid playing a great game and a great team at the beginning of our preparations was that result. I feel a great responsibility.”
Wiegman made five changes to the team that beat Belgium last week, including the choice of Beth England to lead the line with record scorer Ellen White absent from Covid.
England has been facing the Netherlands for a long time. Wiegman was then on the opposite dugout, leading his team to a 3-0 semi-final victory over England before securing a European Championship win at home for the Netherlands in the 2017 final.
With the Dutch coach now with England and Englishman Parsons having traded Portland Thorns for the headlines, and England playing orange while the Dutch wore white shirts, any fan wishing their next Stranger Things success will have their appetite for a game that looks like it’s being. played at Upside Down.
If there had been concerns about how prepared Fran Kirby was for this summer’s tournament after the Chelsea midfielder’s timeout with a fatigue problem, then they calmed down in part in the first half against the runners-up in the Copa del Rey. World 2019. Kirby’s value in role number 10 became clear in two minutes as she and Chloe Kelly combined perfectly on the right.
Lauren Hemp and Beth England celebrate after Lucy Bronze’s effort falls into the net to tie. Photography: Nick Potts / PA
Wiegman had wished for tougher tests for his Lions before the start of the European Championship at Old Trafford on 6 July and seemed to get it on Elland Road. Mary Earps did well to deny Lineth Beerensteyn from close range after the striker had gotten rid of Bronze.
The visiting team took the lead and the source was well known. In 2017, Martens made England’s defense go bad and his header near the post from a corner dodged static defenders between her and the goal and caught Earps, who was slow to react. .
Kirby had been challenging him for some time. inwards.
Shortly after the break, there was a VAR check for a Dutch penalty after Alex Greenwood moved Daniëlle van de Donk’s feet away from the area. The center-back was cautioned for the careless challenge, but Spitse, making his 200th appearance with his country, hit the resulting penalty on the outside of a post.
England’s response was instantaneous. Just 90 seconds after the penalty kick, England put themselves ahead. Keira Walsh sent a smooth pass to Hemp and the Manchester City striker advanced to the left before sending a cross in which substitute Mead turned it around.
A series of changes for both sides saw Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema, the Netherlands’ top scorer, enter and Manchester United’s Ella Toone had a chance to claim the 10th role in the air, entering his place. of Kirby.
The impact of the substitute was instantaneous. Rachel Daly, who was excellent all the time, let go of Toone, who skated around Lynn Wilms and swept the ball to the far corner.
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Is bench strength the biggest weapon in England this summer? “It’s absolutely a weapon,” Wiegman said. “I don’t know if it’s our biggest strength.”
Two minutes later and England had four. A Bronze cross from the right was hit at the base of a post by Toone before the ball was clear, but only to Hemp, who threw his volley into the corner. Mead’s Mead kept his cool as he faced down 90 minutes into the game.
He’s just a friendly, but Parsons is struggling to look beyond England. “The quality of the players, the resources that the WSL has been putting in, the work that the clubs have been doing,” he said. “It’s very hard to say they’re not the favorites.”