France assigns a favorite role to the Netherlands: ‘Miedema is world class’ NOW
French national coach Corinne Diacre believes that the Netherlands is the favorite for the quarterfinals at the European Championship in England. The two top nations will face each other in Rotherham on Saturday.
“The Netherlands is defending the European title. So if there is one who has to be the favorite for this match, it is them,” Diacre said on Friday at her together in the New York Stadium. “And everyone keeps telling us we won’t make it through the quarter-finals. So I doubt we’re the favorite now.”
Diacre was referring to the quarter-final trauma of the last six major tournaments (World Cups, European Championships and Olympic Games), the French women were always eliminated in the last eight, they were always the favorite for the overall victory. France is also one of the big contenders at this European Championship.
The selection of the last days often becomes that fact, but according to Wendie is not an item in the dressing room at all. “It’s not a goal in itself to get past the quarter-finals, even if it’s been a few years since this happened. It wouldn’t be a liberation either. We have to stay and start as well as in the past games.”
Captain Wendie Renard and national coach Corinne Diacre spoke on Friday about the upcoming quarterfinal against the Orange.
‘Miedema would like to play this match’
France is also concerned with the question that Vivianne Miedema can play on Saturday after a corona infection. Orange national coach Mark Parsons could not say on Friday that the star player of the Netherlands is sufficiently fit for the top game.
“It is normal for the coach to keep that a secret,” said Renard, who as a central defender normally has to play Miedema out of the game. “But I’m sure they really want to play this match. She has many qualities and is a world-class player, but we also know that the Netherlands is more than just Miedema.”
France-Netherlands starts on Saturday at 9 p.m. and will be played at the New York Stadium in Rotherham. The winner of France-Netherlands will face Germany in the semifinals, which dealt with Austria (2-0) on Wednesday.