England dream is left in tatters
HOLLAND’S Arsenal players went double Dutch to end England’s Euro dream last night.
Recently signed striker Vivianne Miedema and midfielder Danielle van de Donk struck in each half and a late own-goal from Millie Bright ended the Lionesses’ dream of reaching the final.
A third Gunner, goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal, was also equal to everything the Lionesses could throw at her throughout the match.
It was a devastating end to the tournament for Mark Sampson’s team, who had played so well to reach the last four. But on a day of celebration for Holland, the host nation deservedly went through to meet Denmark in Sunday’s final.
Enschede’s city centre, three miles from the stadium, was a sea of orange as Dutch fans crowded the bars and a huge fanzone ahead of the game.
Inside the stadium, the home supporters, vastly outnumbering the thousand or so cheering on the Lionesses, created an electric atmosphere.
But in front of the biggest crowd ever – 30,000 – to watch a women’s match in Holland, Sampson had promised before the game that England would not be fazed.
A tight match had looked in store as England had been sharper up front with 11 goals to Holland’s six, but each side had conceded just one goal in the four games.
England were without injured goalkeeper Karen Bardsley and suspended midfielder Jill Scott, with Siobhan Chamberlain and Fara Williams stepping in.
When the two sides last met, in a Tilburg friendly last November, Sampson’s team scraped a 1-0 victory through Jodie Taylor’s late goal and Golden Boot favourite Taylor went into last night’s match with five tournament goals to her name.
And she almost added to her tally in the first minute, just failing to meet a cross from her Arsenal team-mate Jordan Nobbs.
In a scrappy opening 20 minutes Holland right-back Desiree van Lunteren and Lionesses central defender Bright were both booked. But the game took off in the 22nd minute as Miedema rose to send a header looping into the net from ex-Chelsea midfielder Jackie Groenen’s cross.
England might have equalised two minutes later but, from a Lucy Bronze cross, striker Fran Kirby shot over.
As England continued to press for an equaliser, midfielder Jade Moore had a 27th-minute header turned on to the post by winger Sherida Spitse.
The Lionesses then had appeals for a penalty turned down when striker Ellen White was bundled over by Van Lunteren, a decision that left Sampson so annoyed he ripped his shirt gesturing to the referee.
Just before half-time, Nobbs had a long-range effort saved inside the near post by the alert Van Veenendaal.
Two minutes after the break, Moore became the second England player to be shown the yellow card after a foul on left-back Kika van Es.
As England pushed forward, Taylor’s 20-yard drive forced Van Veenendaal into a goalline save, while at the other end Chamberlain had to dive full length to turn aside a crossshot by her Liverpool colleague Shanice van de Sanden.
Play was now switching from end to end and England almost drew level with what would have been a lucky goal.
Kirby crossed from the left and the ball bounced off White to wrong-foot Van Veenendaal, but the keeper was able to make the save.
Disaster then struck just after the hour to hand Holland their second goal when Williams’ misplaced header dropped into her own penalty area and as Chamberlain was slow to come off her line, Van de Donk hooked the ball into the roof of the net.
Sampson made substitutions, sending on Toni Duggan for Williams and Karen Carney for Moore. And
England pressed hard in the closing stages as they looked to force their way back into the game.
But after Taylor had seen a goalbound effort blocked by Van Veenendaal, the Dutch nicked a third goal when Lieke Martens’ cross was diverted into her own net by Bright.