Sarina Wiegman Suffers Nations League Defeat on Her Homecoming after a Stunning Late Strike
- 7 months ago
It was a return to familiar surroundings for Sarina Wiegman but ended with an unfamiliar outcome. England had lost just once in their 31 competitive games under the Dutchwoman heading into this clash.
It’s now two losses in 32 after the Lionesses slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands.
There was no dream homecoming for Wiegman. Instead, large parts of England’s display proved to be something of a nightmare.
England improved after the break and drew level through Alessia Russo’s well-taken strike.
But still, the Lionesses gave the ball away too easily and they were made to pay for it when substitute Renate Jansen raced through on goal and fired past Mary Earps to secure all three points.
‘The result is tough to take. It’s hard to take especially because it was so unnecessary,’ said Wiegman. ‘In the last minute, we gave it away and that’s the most disappointing thing.’
It was a deserved win for the Netherlands and one which was made even more impressive given they slipped to a shock 2-1 defeat to Belgium in their Nations League opener last week.
England narrowly won their first game against Scotland but started where they left off from with an equally disjointed display in the opening stages.
They allowed the Netherlands to grow in confidence from the off. Some clever one and two-touch play left England chasing shadows.
Cries of ‘Get hold of it’ were loud and clear from the Lionesses players when Lauren Hemp failed to bring a quick free-kick under control. In truth, that directive could have been directed at any of England’s midfield or attacking players in the first half.
You could see the opener coming from a mile off and England's profligacy led to it.
First, Millie Bright dawdled on the ball in her box and saw her deflected pass fall fortuitously to Georgia Stanway.
But Stanway replicated her captain’s mistake, seeing her pass closed down and falling into the path of Van de Donk. She laid the ball off to Martens and although it looked as though the chance had passed, Martens managed to bend the ball brilliantly into the top corner past Mary Earps.
The use of VAR is at the hosts’ discretion in the group stages of this competition. With no technology on hand to help referee Ivana Martincic see that Van de Donk was clearly in an off-side position when she received the ball, the goal stood.
‘I think we push the level of the game to be so high and professional, yet we sometimes have VAR, sometimes we don’t,’ said Bright. ‘There is no consistency. But, by no means is that an excuse. We put ourselves in that position - not clearing the ball, not getting out of pressure.
‘This is international football and we do not have VAR in a competitive international game, which is mind-blowing.’
Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar had been a bystander for much of the first half but was forced into a smart double-save, first from Lauren Hemp and then from Ella Toone.
At the other end and on the stroke of half time, L
It’s now two losses in 32 after the Lionesses slipped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat against the Netherlands.
There was no dream homecoming for Wiegman. Instead, large parts of England’s display proved to be something of a nightmare.
England improved after the break and drew level through Alessia Russo’s well-taken strike.
But still, the Lionesses gave the ball away too easily and they were made to pay for it when substitute Renate Jansen raced through on goal and fired past Mary Earps to secure all three points.
‘The result is tough to take. It’s hard to take especially because it was so unnecessary,’ said Wiegman. ‘In the last minute, we gave it away and that’s the most disappointing thing.’
It was a deserved win for the Netherlands and one which was made even more impressive given they slipped to a shock 2-1 defeat to Belgium in their Nations League opener last week.
England narrowly won their first game against Scotland but started where they left off from with an equally disjointed display in the opening stages.
They allowed the Netherlands to grow in confidence from the off. Some clever one and two-touch play left England chasing shadows.
Cries of ‘Get hold of it’ were loud and clear from the Lionesses players when Lauren Hemp failed to bring a quick free-kick under control. In truth, that directive could have been directed at any of England’s midfield or attacking players in the first half.
You could see the opener coming from a mile off and England's profligacy led to it.
First, Millie Bright dawdled on the ball in her box and saw her deflected pass fall fortuitously to Georgia Stanway.
But Stanway replicated her captain’s mistake, seeing her pass closed down and falling into the path of Van de Donk. She laid the ball off to Martens and although it looked as though the chance had passed, Martens managed to bend the ball brilliantly into the top corner past Mary Earps.
The use of VAR is at the hosts’ discretion in the group stages of this competition. With no technology on hand to help referee Ivana Martincic see that Van de Donk was clearly in an off-side position when she received the ball, the goal stood.
‘I think we push the level of the game to be so high and professional, yet we sometimes have VAR, sometimes we don’t,’ said Bright. ‘There is no consistency. But, by no means is that an excuse. We put ourselves in that position - not clearing the ball, not getting out of pressure.
‘This is international football and we do not have VAR in a competitive international game, which is mind-blowing.’
Netherlands goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar had been a bystander for much of the first half but was forced into a smart double-save, first from Lauren Hemp and then from Ella Toone.
At the other end and on the stroke of half time, L