Netherlands football culture earns praise of defeated coach as Dutch women win again

Defeated Denmark coach Nils Nielsen paid tribute to his opponents after host nation Netherlands defeated his side 1-0 in their Group A match at the Uefa Women’s European Championships in Rotterdam last night.

Despite been almost totally dominated during a first half in which Sherida Spitse scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot, the Danes rallied after the break but, despite a spirited fightback, were unable to find the equaliser.

Said Nielsen: “I like it that the home team won, as they have to get far in the tournament, with us. We will have to beat Norway and I will be very happy if we do so. The way the Dutch played is part of their football culture. They play the same football as the men’s team and I like to watch that.”

Netherlands coach Sarina Wiegman added: “Denmark wanted to score and played much deeper in the second half with more players up front, and we had difficulties with that. That has to do with the strength of Denmark, they made it difficult for us to play our own game.”

Both teams having won their opening matches in the group, the result means that Netherlands have almost clinched their place in the next round, while a Denmark victory over Norway on Monday would

0 Elke Van Gorp: First goal. almost certainly also take them to the next phase.

Denmark’s defeat last night also means that Norway’s place in the competition is hanging by a thread as, earlier in the day, they were defeated 2-0 in Breda by Belgium, who recorded their first-ever win at a Women’s Euro finals.

Belgium coach Ives Sernees acknowledged a marked improvement in his side’s use of the ball following a singlegoal defeat in their first match against Denmark. “Today we were better in possession,” he said. “Everyone knew what to do. That was the difference.”

Both sides missed chances in an evenly contested first half, but the Belgians dominated the second period and took the lead after 59 minutes when Elke Van Gorp became her country’s first player to score in a major women’s finals.

Norway goalkeeper Ingris Hjelmseth spilled a free-kick and Van Gorp, the first to react, managed to force the ball into the net.

Janice Cayman sealed the victory with a header eight minutes later.