The 2019 Women’s World Cup is only the Netherlands’ second appearance at Fifa’s showcase tournament but they displayed no inexperience as the European champions saw off a spirited Italy in Valenciennes. Second-half headers from Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt – the first goals conceded by the Italians from open play in France – secured the Dutch a history-making trip to the World Cup semi-finals.
The all-European quarter-final encounter began in sweltering mid-afternoon conditions, as the heatwave gripping northern France refused to abate. Every other match this round had been scheduled as an evening fixture but the Italians and the Dutch drew the short straw. The Royal Dutch Football Association even wrote to Fifa asking if the match could be pushed back, to no avail. “We will feel the heat,” joked Italy’s manager, Milena Bertolini, on Friday.
They did – via both the baking sun and their dangerous opposition. From the opening whistle onwards, Italy endured relentless waves of pressure as the Netherlands marauded forward. The Barcelona forward Lieke Martens, sufficiently recovered from a foot injury that had left her starting spot under a cloud, and her strike partner, Miedema, combined with aplomb. Yet the Italian defence stood firm, impervious to the Dutch raids.
Indeed it was Italy who had the first clearcut opportunity, with Milan’s Valentina Bergamaschi scuffing a golden chance – despite being unmarked close to goal – after 18 minutes. Replays indicated there may have been an earlier offside, though, continuing a trend that has seen four Italian goals disallowed at the tournament. But Bergamaschi’s misplaced shot meant VAR did not need to intervene.
The opportunity swung momentum towards Italy and it was soon Le Azzurre who were in the ascendant. A water break on the half-hour gave the Dutch a shorty reprieve, although there was no rest for either set of travelling fans – a small Italian contingent remained in full-voice throughout the half as they faced down a stadium full of orange-clad Dutch supporters. Fans of the Oranje have been a common sight throughout the World Cup but they were particularly numerous in Valenciennes; less than 150 kilometres from their homeland’s southern border, the industrial French city temporarily felt like a Dutch exclave.
The Netherlands began the second half much as they had started the first, imposing themselves upon Italy’s back four but failing to find the right key to unlock an impressive defence unit. The winger Shanice van de Sanden looked most likely to find a breakthrough as she wreaked havoc on flank, before – somewhat counterintuitively – being substituted in favour of the 22-year-old attacking prodigy Lineth Beerensteyn.
The Dutch intensified their pressure as the encounter reached the hour mark, with Daniëlle van de Donk curling an effort from outside the area against the bar. Tensions flared from both teams, mainly in the direction of the Uruguayan referee, Claudia Umpiérrez, with yellow cards being dealt and the literal and figurative temperature increasing.
Finally, an opener arrived. The latest in a string of free-kicks for niggly Italian fouls saw Sherida Spitse loft the ball to Miedema, whose glancing header past Laura Giuliani’s out-stretched glove gave the Arsenal striker collect her 61st national-team goal. Drenched with sweat and enraged by Umpiérrez, the Italians looked despondent. Italy’s miracle run – to the quarter-finals on their first appearance at the World Cup in two decades, capturing the imagination of a nation who had previously been agnostic to women’s football – appeared over.
Italy’s ill-discipline then led to that being confirmed. They conceding another yet free-kick, this time on the corner of their own penalty area, and Spitse whipped in her second effort within 10 minutes. Van der Gragt connected with a powerful header, leaping for joy in the knowledge that she had put the Netherlands’ progress to the semi-finals beyond doubt.
The Dutch celebrated joyously following Umpiérrez’s final whistle, in the stands and on the pitch. They now find themselves just two victories from World Cup triumph, a remarkable achievement just four years on from their tournament debut. The Netherlands will face either Sweden or Germany in Lyon on Wednesday.
