Dutch, Danes win Euro openers
SHANICE van de Sanden’s bullet header lifted hosts the Netherlands past Norway, while Denmark beat Belgium as the women’s Euro tournament kicked off with two Group A games on Sunday.
Liverpool winger Van de Sanden’s 66th-minute goal gave the Dutch a deserved win over the 2013 runnersup in the competition opener in Utrecht.
In Doetinchem, Sanne Troelsgaard spoiled Belgium’s European championship debut as she headed home on just six minutes after Belgian keeper Justien Odeurs had tipped a free kick onto the crossbar.
Van de Sanden capitalised on a superb cross from Lieke Martens from the left wing that found her face-toface with helpless Norway keeper Ingrid Hjelmseth.
Pleasing Utrecht’s sold-out Galgenwaard stadium, the Dutch were on the front foot throughout the game, with Martens and Arsenal striker Anna Miedema a constant threat.
Martens was denied twice by Hjelmseth early into the game as the keeper first cleared her shot in the first minute following a cross from Van de Sanden, then tipped another over the bar 10 minutes later.
Miedema, who only turned 21 on Saturday, sent two shots wide after halftime, then another five minutes from the end.
“There was teamwork, there was fighting spirit, and we also wanted to play good football,” Dutch coach Sarina Wiegman said. “Today all those ingredients were there. That’s something to be proud of.”
Norway coach Martin Sjoegren said the hosts’ victory was “fair”.
“We had major problems in our attacking game and we ended up very disorganised in defence because of that.”
Denmark dominated the first half after their early goal and Nadia Nadim almost made it 2-0, but her two shots were blocked by the Belgian defence – the second one with an arm but no penalty was awarded.
Battle of Britain
“We played a decent first half and we deserved to score,” Denmark coach Nils Nielsen said.
“In the second half Belgium started causing us trouble and it was a bit tough, but my players fought hard for the win and I am happy about that.”
In today’s Group C openers, Austria take on Switzerland in Deventer, while France face Iceland in Tilburg.
Meanwhile, Scotland are relishing every moment of their women’s European Championship debut, bracing for a battle of Britain against England on Wednesday, coach Anna Signeul said ahead of the match.
“I am enjoying every second of it. It is carpe diem [‘seize the day’ in Latin], it is enjoying the moment, it is every second, every day, just finally being here and having that smile on your face,” the 56-year-old Swede said.
“I’m also very proud of what we have achieved coming here, but I’m also very proud of where we have come as a nation, with the whole girls’ and women’s football.”
Scotland, who qualified for their first major tournament in the Netherlands after finishing runners-up to Iceland, face arch-rivals England in their opening Group D match on Wednesday.
So far Scotland have won just a single game against England, drawn twice and lost 21 times, including all six competitive encounters.
“I think England will focus on winning every day, it doesn’t matter what opponents are standing against them,” Signeul said of the Lionesses, who finished third at the 2015 World Cup in Canada. “They play with a lot of self confidence, they have successful players in their team and they have been successful, so it’s a confident team that we play against, we know that.”