Wellington (Reuters) – The Netherlands suffered a disappointing quarter-final exit at the Women’s World Cup finals, losing 2-1 in extra time to Spain. This marked only their third appearance in the tournament, but it was seen as a missed opportunity for the team. The Netherlands joined a list of pre-tournament favorites who were already eliminated, including the United States, Germany, Canada, and Brazil.
Despite their relative inexperience, the Netherlands had a realistic chance to go further in the tournament. In the previous World Cup in France four years ago, they reached the final and narrowly lost. Their progress over the past decade has been impressive, earning them the label of contenders. Coach Andries Jonker repeatedly stated their ambitions during the tournament.
The Dutch players showed their potential by finishing at the top of their group, ahead of the defending champions, the United States. They dominated their last pool game, defeating Vietnam 7-0. Leading up to the quarter-final match, the Netherlands only conceded one goal in the tournament, which came in the 1-1 draw against the United States. Their hard-fought 2-0 victory over South Africa in the last 16 further highlighted their capabilities.
However, the Dutch were unable to capitalize on their opportunities in the match against Spain. In extra time at the Wellington Regional Stadium, they paid the price for missed chances. Coach Jonker acknowledged that Spain was slightly better, but his team fought hard and had several good chances. Lineth Beerensteyn, who had some of these opportunities, expressed her disappointment at not converting them.
Despite the disappointing result, Jonker found positives in the tournament. He stated that it showcased the Netherlands’ return to the top women’s teams. However, he admitted that they had secretly hoped to be the best and that winning was the ultimate goal.
The Netherlands’ exit adds to the growing list of upsets in the Women’s World Cup. With powerhouses like the United States and Germany already gone, the tournament has become even more unpredictable. As teams like the Netherlands continue to improve, future World Cups promise to be even more competitive.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken Ferris)
Credit: The Star : Sport Feed
