By Catherine MacKenzie (08/07/2025)
Above: England v Netherlands in 2022. Photo: Sky Sports.
England’s Lionesses face the Dutch OranjeLeeuwinnen (“Orange Lionesses”) tomorrow evening in a must-win game for both sides.
It is hard to remember a match with as many narratives behind it as this one. When England face the Netherlands in Switzerland for their second group game of the 2025 Euros, the stories both on the pitch and in the dugout could fill an epic novel. The link between the two teams nicknamed the Lionesses has simultaneously never been as strong as it is now, nor as frought. In this feature for Impetus Football, Catherine MacKenzie breaks down the stories that form the background to the game.
What the result would mean
Firstly, there is the obvious – the importance of the three points on offer. England lost their opening game to France, meaning another loss would all but confirm an early exit from the tournament. For the Netherlands, the picture is only slightly rosier: they won their opening game against Wales but still have France to overcome.
Pick up the three points against England (or even a draw) and they firmly establish themselves in the lead for that second knockout place, before facing a France side in delirious form. Should England win, the Dutch will need to secure a strong win against France to have any hope of remaining in the tournament.
Personal conflicts
If Oranje succeed in knocking out England, it will be a tough pill to swallow for many members of England’s staff. Head coach Sarina Wiegman and Assistant Manager Arjan Veurink are both Dutch, and were working for the OranjeLeeuwinnen before they came to the UK in 2021. With the Dutch team, they won the 2017 Euros and reached the 2019 World Cup final.
That their homeland stands in the way of England reaching the knockout rounds of this tournament is surely hard to handle, particularly as recent matches between the two sides have been relatively even in terms of results. In the run up to the 2022 Euros, the sides played a friendly; England’s Lionesses were victorius, dominating their Oranje counterparts 5-1.
Jump ahead two years, and England’s post-World Cup run of form was challenging as they lost to the Netherlands away in the Nations League.
In the return fixture, the English Lionesses conceded two in quick succession courtesy of Dutch striker Lineth Beerensteyn, who got her start under Wiegman at The Hague-based club ADO Den Haag. England eventually overturned that scoreline, winning 3-2.
There is also the fact that England forward Beth Mead has been in a relationship with Oranje striker Vivianne Miedema since 2022. On the prospect of facing each other in the tournament, Mead has said “it was inevitable.”.
Talking to BBC Sport, she continued: “When the draw was made, we both sat there and said ‘of course that’s happened!”
“We’re both very, very competitive and professional. We’re both excited for the tournament and to be able to play in it again. We keep in contact but when it gets closer to our games, we don’t talk football whatsoever. Obviously we want each other to do well but not against each other!“
Personnel merry-go-round
As mentioned, Wiegman and Veurink were once head coach and assistant for the Dutch team – and Veurink is heading back following this summer’s Euros to become the nation’s head coach. Two Netherlands assistants, Janneke Bijl and Arvid Smit, will head the opposite way to join Wiegman in England.
In her pre-match press conference, the Lionesses head coach was asked if any of the group will find it difficult to focus on their current team in the face of such change. Her reply was emphatic: “I am now working with this staff and we are only working on one thing, and that is our game plan with our players for tomorrow“.
Current Dutch head coach Andries Jonker is also a familiar face. Once working with the Arsenal academy, he also had a short term as interim head coach of the OranjeLeeuwinnen when Wiegman was a player and captain; the two kept in touch, with Jonker offering an internship to Wiegman whilst she was in the earliest stages of her coaching career.
Following the group stage draw earlier this year, Jonker commented that “it is always special [facing Wiegman] because we’re friends. Normally with friends you wish the the best but as sports people we want to beat the other one. We both want to win. That means you have to hurt your friend. But we are both on the same page and the respect for each other won’t change.“
In addition, the English Lionesses also include a half-Dutch defender in Lotte Wubben-Moy. Speaking to the Independent, she shared that: “My dad comes from the Netherlands, my whole half of my family, so it’s a pretty special fixture.
“I made my debut for England at youth level against the Netherlands and we won that game. I think all through my career, that game against the Netherlands has always been a tough one.“
On what she expects from the Netherlands team, she commented: “It’s physical, it’s tactically varied and it’s a game that epitomises, for me, my heritage.
She does not forget which badge she wears, however: “I was just asked the Dutch media who they’ll be supporting and they’ll definitely be supporting me. And what that means is the England team.”
Perspective of an Oranje fan
Ahead of the game, Impetus spoke to a fan of the OranjeLeeuwinnen about what to expect from them, and what they think about England’s Dutch staff.
For Wiegman and Veurink, there is respect: “To me, Sarina’s one of the best coaches worldwide. Regardless of some recent results they’ve had this year. She’s taken two nations to writing history. If I’d come up against Sarina and her team, I’d genuinely be terrified but also honored to play against them.
I’m very happy for Arjan to get this chance after the tournament. Everyone always says about how hard he works, even though the outside world might not always see it. I think he’d be a great fit with the Netherlands. Especially given their history together.”
They also shared their perspective on the match ahead: “It’ll be a tough one. Both teams will want to win it.”
England v Netherlands kicks off at 5pm BST on BBC One in the UK and Stan Sport in Australia.
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