The time has come for the truth. The most complex challenge for Red in years. The opportunity to continue making history, and it doesn’t stop there. Quarterfinals of a World Cup. Spain vs Netherlands A duel that could have been the final if fate hadn’t gotten in the way of both teams. A team trying to strike the final blow at the table against another team that is currently second in the world. Above all, it’s a game that promises to be a show.
A lot has happened since the Netherlands won the silver medal at the last World Cup in 2019. He came to the event, then became European champion in 2017 and Lieke Martens promising to be the next leading star on the international stage. Gold again (they lost 2-0 in the final against the USA) this time they were one step away from repeating at the global level and took silver. It was a precious silver, and it was the pride of an entire country. The Dutch team, which reached the quarter-finals of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, which was controversial due to covid, was defeated by the USA in penalty shootouts. It was then Sarah Wiegman Between 2017 and 2021 – selective – he decided to change the stage and his country for England, with which he won the European Cup last summer.
calm after storm
After leaving wiegmanThe Netherlands became unrecognizable and entered a grayer phase with an internal crisis. This crisis led to a change of coach. Mark Parsons – successor sarina– He resigned after the bad image left by ‘Oranje’ in the last European Championship where he reached the quarter-finals. His place has been taken andries jokeIt’s slowly putting together the best version of its team, featuring familiar faces and veterans, as well as young promises.
They started the World Cup with more doubts than certainties and went from little to more, taking the group top spot with two wins 1-0 against Portugal and 0-7 against Vietnam and a draw with the United States. (1-1). In the last 16, they faced South Africa, which was a big surprise, in Group G, and they won 2-0 with South Africa’s goals. Jill Roord And lineth beerensteyn. A duel that would have been much tighter had it not been for goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, who was chosen ‘MVP’ and saved her team from what could be considered a failure.
triple threat
It was difficult for the Netherlands to advance and build the game, and perhaps its weakest point, the defense, was easily defeated. They were lucky too Jill Roord He is sweet and one of the biggest heroes of the World Cup. The new Manchester City player is the second top scorer of the tournament, along with Popp and Diani, with just four goals behind the Japanese. Hinata MiyazawaOne of the main weapons for Jonker.
The Dutch coach also has the seniority and distinctive quality of Lieke Martens, who rediscovered the best version of herself after a rough year at PSG, and the speed and frenzy of young Esmee Brugts (2003), one of the biggest promises in international women’s sports. Football.
After their win against Switzerland, Spain came to the rendezvous with good feelings but with the utmost respect for their opponent. To win, they will need to strengthen the midfield – the Netherlands are playing with diamonds – and, above all, put into practice the work they have been doing these days on the event.