Van de Donk wonders goals will seal the Netherlands’ win after Sweden’s edge with Switzerland
After learning about Vivianne Miedema’s positive Covid test, Mark Parsons made a promise on behalf of the Dutch players. “When this group is hit by a blow,” he warned, “they have a reaction, to dig deep and give it their all.”
The same will be said about Francisco Netos Portugal. Despite another unlikely comeback after two goals below, they were finally silenced by a challenger for Goal of the Tournament from former Arsenal winger Danielle van de Donk who bent into the upper right corner from the edge of the box and dipped under the crossbar. .
Group C continues to be a fantastic advertisement for these euros. It was a group that, before a ball had been kicked, was seen as a formality, assuming that the Netherlands would gallop through it; in Portugal.
Their first task was to avoid a new accident start, by letting in twice during the first five minutes against Switzerland. While Portugal started brighter, they held out for just seven minutes this time, when a straight corner hit Damaris Egurrola’s head. Portugal’s absence would come back and haunt them again.
At least when there is no Miedema (midfielder Jackie Groenen is also out with Covid) there is hope. Lineth Beerensteyn started on her own and it was the Juventus forward’s fuss that led to the Netherlands’ second. There had been no real reaction from Portugal’s defense, Carole Costa did not manage to get enough of her approval.
Wednesday’s results for the European Championships 2022
- Sweden 2-1 Switzerland (Rolfo ’53, Bennison ’79 | Bachmann ’55)
- Netherlands 3-2 Portugal (Egurrola ‘7, Van der Gragt ’16, Van de Donk ’62 | Costa’ 38P, D Silva ’47)
The Dutch celebration was short-lived, Stefanie van der Gragt dived into a high foot in the process of heading the ball into the net, the second time in as many matches she has suffered a head injury. Worried about the Netherlands, and just as much about the European clubs that see the free agent released by Ajax at the end of the season.
Portugal had been overpowered and over-muscled once again, their lack of height inside the box proved to be too easy to exploit.
Still, Neto had seen enough of this Dutch defense to know that opportunities would come. Diana Silva’s criminal appeal was first rejected, only for VAR to reveal that she had been cut by Dominique Janssen when she tried to cut the inside. Costa converted calmly from 12 yards.
The duo combined again for the equalizer, Costa went over to Silva – scored 22 goals for Sporting last season – when she hovered near the penalty spot.
Silva should not win those nods and it will scare Parsons, even if he could have suspected that his attack would eventually find a way through. Portugal deserved so much that their final demise could only be sealed with an improbable, unpredictable moment of magic that few can produce like Van de Donk.
Sluggish Sweden is waiting to turn on the style
By Daniel Storey
BRAMALL LANE – A piece of individual brilliance. A connection between the components of a team that until then has performed in isolation. Sometimes it’s all it takes and in tournament football it’s sometimes nothing else that matters. Sweden is not really moving forward, but at least they are still on their feet.
Peter Gerhardsson’s team came into this tournament as the experts ‘- if not necessarily bookmakers’ – favorites. They finished third at the 2019 World Cup and, unbelievably, they have not lost a match since before the outbreak of Covid. They fought. They had quality. They were a team.
And they’re still a team. Gerhardsson will want more of Sweden and they may well need to beat Portugal by a solid margin to take the Netherlands to the top spot in Group C. If they do not and they will most likely face France in a very difficult quarterfinal and then a semi-final against Germany. Winning a quarter-final against a runner-up in Group D is a huge advantage in a frenetic schedule played in hot weather.
Sweden has been a brilliant addition to this tournament, perhaps the most supported team outside the UK. On Wednesday afternoon, hordes of fans met in the center of Sheffield and marched to Bramall Lane behind the drum that recorded the match as if it were a tribal ceremony. They hung flags on the barriers of Kop and filled blocks of John Street Stand with yellow.
The yellow horde witnessed a sluggish performance. Sweden impressed without a ball against the Dutch and crowded the spaces where danger is born; they suffered the same fate against Switzerland. Maybe they are simply better out of possession than that – they picked the wrong passes, made the wrong runs and delivered posts poorly, both from set pieces and open play.
We should credit their opponents as well, especially given that Switzerland suffered a stomach illness that had put several members of their squad low since their first match. Credit is little consolation; it will require a miraculous set of results for the Swiss to take the knockout.
Sweden will be in the quarterfinals, but it is difficult what to do with them beyond. Is this team designed to elevate their game to every challenge, doing just enough to meet the wishes of their thousands of traveling fans until it is fully measured? Or we’re overanalyzing here – they might just be flattering to fool.