European teams dominate World Cup field

LE HAVRE, France — Even Netherlands forward Lineth Beerensteyn had to check that the number was right.

“Oh my God — seven,” she exclaimed. “That’s a lot.”

Europe is dominating the Women’s World Cup.

The Netherlands made it a record seven European teams in the quarterfinals by knocking out Japan, which won the tournament in 2011 and reached the final four years ago.

Never before in the previous seven editions had an Asian team missed out on making the last eight. Only the United States’ victory over Spain prevented a clean sweep by European teams in the round of 16, and the defending champions have to face host France on Friday.

“Sometimes it kind of feels like a Euros,” Netherlands forward Vivianne Miedema said. “America is amazing.”

The compliment isn’t being returned by U.S. forward Tobin Heath.

“As a football fan, to me I would want a little bit more diversity at this point,” Heath said. “I find European football is sometimes a little boring, and I think that there’s some teams that are so exciting to watch, that you won’t be able to see this kind of different style, which is unfortunate at this stage because I appreciate certain teams that are no longer in the tournament.”

There is a freshness to the field, however.

The Dutch are in the quarterfinals for the first time in only their second appearance to the tournament. Italy, its opponent on Saturday, is back in the quarterfinals for the first time

since the first FIFA women’s showpiece in 1991.

The round opens with Norway playing England, which finished third in 2015, and wraps up Saturday night with two-time champion Germany taking on Sweden. Investment domestically is raising standards for players, cementing Europe’s control of the international game.

“The biggest example is Italy,” Miedema said. “They put a lot of money into Juventus and in a couple of other clubs. You see it directly on the World Cup.”

All but one of the Italian players plays at home, with eight out of 23 playing on the Serie A-winning Juventus squad.

“Once the league in your country is really strong then you know your national team is going to become better as well,” Miedema said. “It’s only going to become bigger.”