Vivianne Miedema
scored twice Sunday as the Netherlands
beat Denmark 4-2
to win its first Women's European
Championship title and
set off a huge party among thousands
of orange-clad fans.
Long after the final whistle and award
ceremony, the players -
many clutching bottles of Champagne -
danced through the
corridors of the FC Twente stadium chanting
"Champions!"
The success of the Dutch women's team
is in stark contrast
to the country's men, who failed to qualify
for last year's European
Championship in France and is
struggling to reach
next year's World Cup in Russia.
Players of the Netherlands celebrate with the trophy after
defeating Denmark at the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman said she hoped the victory
and success of the tournament on home soil would promote
the game among Dutch girls and prove a platform on which
to build greater success for the women's team as it prepares
to start qualification for the World Cup later this year.
It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Denmark,
which knocked out six-time defending champion Germany in
the quarterfinals and reached its first final after losing five
previous semifinals. A penalty shootout win over Austria after
extra time in the semifinals left the Danes looking tired in the
second half, allowing the Dutch to control play.
The end of the German reign as European champion after more
than two decades at the top is a sign that the game is
improving across the continent, Wiegman said.
"Germany was champion and nobody else could get close,"
she said. "Today we changed that. Actually Denmark
changed it and we continued today."
The game started well for the Danes, when striker Nadia Nadim -
a former refugee from Afghanistan whose father was killed
by the Taliban - converted a sixth-minute penalty after Kika
van Es clumsily brought down Sanne Troelsgaard in the area.
"Sometimes you can't choose what you want. You just get it,"
said Nadim, who fled Afghanistan after her father's death
and settled in Denmark. She now plays for the Portland
Thorns in the U.S. National Women's Soccer League.
The Dutch fans did not have to wait long for their team to
cancel out Nadim's opener.
A long ball by midfielder Jackie Groenen launched right winger
Shanice van de Sanden and her low cross was met by
Miedema for her third goal in as many matches in the
knockout stage of the tournament.
Left winger Lieke Martens, named player of the tournament
after the match, put the Dutch ahead in the 28th when she
drifted into the center, turned a defender and fired a low shot
past goalkeeper Stina Lykke Petersen.
Five minutes later, Denmark was back on terms at 2-2 when
captain Pernille Harder overcame the Dutch offside trap and
then beat Sari van Veenendaal at her near post with a well-placed shot.
Captain Sherida Spitse restored the Dutch lead after the break
with a free kick that rolled wide of the wall and into the corner.
Miedema, who had been criticized for not scoring in the group
stage, sealed the victory in the 89th with her second goal of the final.
"It was tough at the start, but then things started going well,"
the forward told Dutch broadcaster NOS. "Today the first half
was so chaotic, Denmark was good, and it was fantastic
that we could show in the second half that we can
play good football."
The frenetic match was played in front of a sell-out crowd
of more than 28,000 fans, including Denmark's Crown Prince
Frederik, at FC Twente's stadium in the eastern city of Enschede.
Also in the crowd was Marco van Basten, the star of the Dutch
men's team that won the 1988 European Championship.
Nadim, who overcame so much to reach the final, said she
was disappointed with the loss, "but maybe in a week
or so we can be proud of our performance and happy that we
won a silver medal, but right now it feels like we lost a gold medal."
Lieke Martens of the Netherlands applauses after her team
defeating Denmark at the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
The team of the Netherlands celebrate after defeating Denmark
to win the final of the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Players of the Netherlands celebrate with the trophy after
defeating Denmark during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer
match in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Shanice van de Sanden of the Netherlands, left, embraces
Denmark's Nadia Nadim after the Netherlands defeating Denmark
during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match in Enschede,
the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Vivianne Miedema, number 9, of the Netherlands celebrates with
teammate Lieke Martens after she scores her side's fourth goal
during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match between
Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Dutch soccer fans wave a flags during the Women's Euro 2017
final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede,
the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Goalie Sari van Veenendaal of the Netherlands celebrates
after Vivianne Miedema of the Netherlands kicks their side's
first goal during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Danish Crown Prince Frederik, center back ground, stands
on the tribune during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Denmark's Nadia Nadim kicks a penalty during the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A Dutch soccer fan smiles at the stadium prior to the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark in
Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Two girls, supporter of Denmark's women national soccer team,
smiles as they arrive in front of the stadium prior to the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Members of the Netherlands women soccer team celebrate after
defeating Denmark to win the final of the Women's Euro 2017 final
soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede,
the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Players of Denmark reacts after the Netherlands score their
side's fourth goal during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Denmark's Nadia Nadim sits on the ground after her team losing the
Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands
and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Denmark's Nadia Nadim reacts after her team losing the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and
Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Vivianne Miedema
scored twice Sunday as the Netherlands
beat Denmark 4-2
to win its first Women's European
Championship title and
set off a huge party among thousands
of orange-clad fans.
Long after the final whistle and award
ceremony, the players -
many clutching bottles of Champagne -
danced through the
corridors of the FC Twente stadium chanting
"Champions!"
The success of the Dutch women's team
is in stark contrast
to the country's men, who failed to qualify
for last year's European
Championship in France and is
struggling to reach
next year's World Cup in Russia.
Players of the Netherlands celebrate with the trophy after
defeating Denmark at the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman said she hoped the victory
and success of the tournament on home soil would promote
the game among Dutch girls and prove a platform on which
to build greater success for the women's team as it prepares
to start qualification for the World Cup later this year.
It was a disappointing end to the tournament for Denmark,
which knocked out six-time defending champion Germany in
the quarterfinals and reached its first final after losing five
previous semifinals. A penalty shootout win over Austria after
extra time in the semifinals left the Danes looking tired in the
second half, allowing the Dutch to control play.
The end of the German reign as European champion after more
than two decades at the top is a sign that the game is
improving across the continent, Wiegman said.
"Germany was champion and nobody else could get close,"
she said. "Today we changed that. Actually Denmark
changed it and we continued today."
The game started well for the Danes, when striker Nadia Nadim -
a former refugee from Afghanistan whose father was killed
by the Taliban - converted a sixth-minute penalty after Kika
van Es clumsily brought down Sanne Troelsgaard in the area.
"Sometimes you can't choose what you want. You just get it,"
said Nadim, who fled Afghanistan after her father's death
and settled in Denmark. She now plays for the Portland
Thorns in the U.S. National Women's Soccer League.
The Dutch fans did not have to wait long for their team to
cancel out Nadim's opener.
A long ball by midfielder Jackie Groenen launched right winger
Shanice van de Sanden and her low cross was met by
Miedema for her third goal in as many matches in the
knockout stage of the tournament.
Left winger Lieke Martens, named player of the tournament
after the match, put the Dutch ahead in the 28th when she
drifted into the center, turned a defender and fired a low shot
past goalkeeper Stina Lykke Petersen.
Five minutes later, Denmark was back on terms at 2-2 when
captain Pernille Harder overcame the Dutch offside trap and
then beat Sari van Veenendaal at her near post with a well-placed shot.
Captain Sherida Spitse restored the Dutch lead after the break
with a free kick that rolled wide of the wall and into the corner.
Miedema, who had been criticized for not scoring in the group
stage, sealed the victory in the 89th with her second goal of the final.
"It was tough at the start, but then things started going well,"
the forward told Dutch broadcaster NOS. "Today the first half
was so chaotic, Denmark was good, and it was fantastic
that we could show in the second half that we can
play good football."
The frenetic match was played in front of a sell-out crowd
of more than 28,000 fans, including Denmark's Crown Prince
Frederik, at FC Twente's stadium in the eastern city of Enschede.
Also in the crowd was Marco van Basten, the star of the Dutch
men's team that won the 1988 European Championship.
Nadim, who overcame so much to reach the final, said she
was disappointed with the loss, "but maybe in a week
or so we can be proud of our performance and happy that we
won a silver medal, but right now it feels like we lost a gold medal."
Lieke Martens of the Netherlands applauses after her team
defeating Denmark at the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
The team of the Netherlands celebrate after defeating Denmark
to win the final of the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Players of the Netherlands celebrate with the trophy after
defeating Denmark during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer
match in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Shanice van de Sanden of the Netherlands, left, embraces
Denmark's Nadia Nadim after the Netherlands defeating Denmark
during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match in Enschede,
the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Vivianne Miedema, number 9, of the Netherlands celebrates with
teammate Lieke Martens after she scores her side's fourth goal
during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match between
Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Dutch soccer fans wave a flags during the Women's Euro 2017
final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede,
the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Goalie Sari van Veenendaal of the Netherlands celebrates
after Vivianne Miedema of the Netherlands kicks their side's
first goal during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Danish Crown Prince Frederik, center back ground, stands
on the tribune during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Denmark's Nadia Nadim kicks a penalty during the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
A Dutch soccer fan smiles at the stadium prior to the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark in
Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Two girls, supporter of Denmark's women national soccer team,
smiles as they arrive in front of the stadium prior to the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark
in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Members of the Netherlands women soccer team celebrate after
defeating Denmark to win the final of the Women's Euro 2017 final
soccer match between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede,
the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Players of Denmark reacts after the Netherlands score their
side's fourth goal during the Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match
between Netherlands and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands,
Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Denmark's Nadia Nadim sits on the ground after her team losing the
Women's Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands
and Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
Denmark's Nadia Nadim reacts after her team losing the Women's
Euro 2017 final soccer match between Netherlands and
Denmark in Enschede, the Netherlands, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017.
(AP Photo/Patrick Post)
No comments:
Post a Comment