Five years have passed since that historic first championship gold. The Netherlands have set their sights on defending the title from 2017, but still do not hit their chest too hard ahead of Saturday’s European Championship premiere against Sweden at Bramall Lane in Sheffield.
– We are proud reigning champions but it is a completely new situation now. We have celebrated clearly. That was then, and now we are just looking forward to this first match, says PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal at the press conference the day before the premiere.
She has good memories from the recent meetings with Sweden. van Veenendaal guarded the goal both in the European Championship quarter-finals 2017 (2-0) and in the World Cup semi-finals 2019, when the Netherlands won 1-0 after extra time.
“Searched us”
But the 32-year-old does not take for granted that it will be a third straight victory. For that to happen, the Netherlands will then have to grind away much of what the team delivered in the 1-5 loss to England a few weeks ago. It was not the European Championship warm-up that the reigning European champion had hoped for, although it has since been followed up with two victories against Belarus (3-0) and Finland (2-0).
– We take with us the first half against England, and forget the second. Everyone has seen how well we can perform, but it also became clear what we need to improve. We have examined ourselves and have had time to correct the mistakes, says Sari van Veenendaal.
– It showed that we can never afford to underperform, everyone must give one hundred percent and never accept less than that.
Damage interferes
For the Englishman Mark Parsons, it will be the first championship as Dutch national team captain, after taking over from the successful coach Sarina Wiegman (now in England). In his first European Championship match with the Netherlands, he may be forced to do without two strong cards.
Both Wolfsburg defender Dominique Janssen and Juventus striker Lineth Beerensteyn are hesitant to play.
– But I am optimistic about both, but we only know that after Friday’s training, says Mark Parsons.