Sweden reinforced their status as many people’s new favourites for the Gold Medal with a ruthless victory over Australia this morning (Stina Blackstenius pictured scoring their fourth goal via The Guardian).
The major news pre-game was that Sweden welcomed back Magda Eriksson after she was forced to leave the friendly between the two sides back in June. For The Matildas, Teagan Micah, who has been in impressive form since making her debut in that aforementioned game against the Swedes, replaced Lydia Williams in goal.
Australia began the clash with Hayley Raso targeting Jonna Andersson on both flanks – a ploy that worked so successfully for the Everton star when she faced the Swede in her club shirt in an FA Cup tie in May.
Sweden were allowing Australia to play a patient passing build-up through the midfield, with the Scandinavians’ strong defence able to nullify any threat once the Matildas got close to the box.
Caitlin Foord was energetic and busy early on in the middle third but despite the amount of possession that Australia were generating, they were not able to force Hedvig Lindahl into making saves.
Above: Caitlin Foord was busy throughout the game. Photo: Getty Images.
This failure to turn possession into goals came back to haunt the Matildas with 20 minutes on the clock when Kosovare Asllani fed Filippa Angeldahl and her low cross wrong footed Clare Polkinghorne which allowed Fridolina Rolfo to score.
Australia’s immediate response underlined their first half performance: great approach work and movement, comfortable on the ball, but around the box moves fell apart with regularity with the final ball being a major issue.
Sweden forced two corners around the half hour mark, from the second, Angeldahl volleyed wide directly from Micah’s punch clear.
Then, at last, the Matildas produced a final ball of real quality and reaped the reward instantly. Kyah Simon curled in a glorious cross for Kerr to head goal wards. Lindahl got a hand to the ball but couldn’t stop it from crossing the line and Australia were level. Kerr’s header ensured she became her country’s all-time record scorer at the Olympic Games.
Above: Sam Kerr celebrates after getting on the scoresheet once more for The Matildas. Photo: Fox Sports
Five minutes before the break, Hana Glas and Sam Kerr were involved in a challenge on the left hand edge of the six yard box which brought a contrasting verbal exchange from the two teams. The Swedes were audibly appealing for a yellow card for what they viewed as a Kerr dive, with the Australian captain herself heard to be urging referee Edina Alves “you gotta look at that!” In the end neither side got their wish, and it was a goal kick. It remained 1-1 at the break.
The Matildas came out firing at the start of the second half. A glorious diagonal ball found Foord. The Arsenal star put in a beautiful cross for Kerr who comfortably got in ahead of Andersson to score.
However, that was as good as it got for Australia as familiar defensive issues raised their head once more. Tony Gustavsson’s shifting from a back five to a back three is very much a work in progress and Sweden took advantage.
Australia’s lead lasted for just four minutes. Angeldahl was involved once more for the Swedes in the build-up as she played in Sofia Jakobsson whose teasing cross was met by Lina Hurtig, who got in ahead of Ellie Carpenter to slot home.
Above: Kyah Simon linked up well in the first half in particular for The Matildas. Here she rises above Jonna Andersson. Photo: Getty Images.
The Swedes took the lead just gone the hour mark when Rolfo was allowed acres of space to run into and smash home from outside the box for the culmination of just over ten minutes of total Swedish domination.
Tony Gustavsson introduced Alanna Kennedy and Kyra Cooney-Cross in a bid to re-set and re-charge the ranks and it led to a flurry of more controlled and consistent possession.
Shortly afterwards, the Matildas had a great chance to level when VAR adjudged that Angeldahl caught Foord in the box and a penalty was awarded. Kerr stepped up, but Lindahl produced a great one handed stop as Australia’s woes from the penalty spot continued.
Into the final ten minutes, Sweden had now contained Australia once more and they took advantage to clinch victory and their Quarter-Final place with a game to spare when Aslllani aimed a clever cross between Polkinghorne and Kerr which allowed substitute Stina Blackstenius, in red hot form for BK Hacken, to make it 4-2.
Mary Fowler produced another promising cameo from the bench for the Matildas and she played a beautiful inch perfect ball into the path of Kerr with four minutes left, but the Chelsea star’s side footed effort was saved by Lindahl.
In the end, Sweden were far more cohesive and had superior know-how both in terms of defensive organisation and offensive ruthlessness.
In their first game against New Zealand, the Matildas were able win despite failing to turn possession and chances into goals. This morning, Sweden provided Tony Gustavsson’s side with a very painful lesson of what the top sides do to you when possession isn’t converted onto the scoreboard.
Impetus are proud to announce the sponsorship of Helston Athletic’s Smara Sparkes-Bond, a defender who is a key member of their squad. To launch the sponsorship, Ben Gilby spoke to Smara about her career.Graphic supplied by Helston Athletic.
Smara has been part of the women’s footballing scene in Cornwall for a while.
“Where do I start with my footballing journey? I feel like I have played the game for years now, although I guess looking back it has been 20 years which instantly makes me feel old and questions whether it’s time to hang up my boots?!
“Whilst I didn’t start playing for a team until I was 10 years old, My twin Sasha and I would be at the local park every day kicking a ball around with our Dad desperate to play.
“My Dad would really push me from a young age to be the best I could by encouraging me to use both feet, practice skills and be confident to shoot. The local park was where I actually spotted by Falmouth Town Girls U12’s manager who invited Sasha and I to play for them. This was exciting and the first opportunity to play for a team and whilst we enjoyed the opportunity, it was short lived as we were desperate to play with our friends who played for Falmouth United U12’s. Falmouth United was a fantastic junior team managed by Steve Oliver who pushed us to win the league four times consecutively- it felt great being so young but being involved such a successful junior team, we begun to be named ‘unstoppable’.
“Unfortunately, after such success, there was a little lull without much team football due to the lack of opportunities to transition in girls’ football. I am so fortunate that today young girls are supported and given the opportunity to naturally transition from youth to ladies’ football – especially at Helston.
“Whilst playing for a team stopped, meeting my friends in the local field and playing competitive World Cup or heads and volleys didn’t stop – the love grew.
“Hitting the age of sixteen was amazing regarding my footballing career and I was given the opportunity to step into ladies football and play for Penryn Ladies. I loved the challenge that ladies football brought – tougher opposition, more physical, longer matches and more fixtures.
“After Penryn folded, I went and joined Falmouth Town Ladies managed by Neil Phillips.
Above: Smara in action for Truro City. Photo supplied by: Smara Sparkes-Bond.
“Neil was a natural in the world of management and pushed me to be the best player I could be. I can hand on heart say Neil made me fall in love with the game more and is a huge part of the player I am today in my blue Helston shirt. Whilst I miss Neil, I do not miss the blood, sweat and tears caused at his training sessions which consisted of endless fitness and drills – but hey it made us be one of the best women’s teams in Cornwall.
“After a few seasons, we decided to merge with Truro City to form Truro City Ladies which was an unbelievable team full of great players. We came runners up in our first season in the Premier Vivision. Unfortunately, this league brought on lots of travelling and became difficult to retain committed players which eventually caused us to fold.
“Still wanting to play football, Sash and I decided to join Torquay United for a season to keep up the high standard of football and continue challenging ourselves. This saw us having to travel to Torquay twice a week for training and fixtures and therefore could only be done for one season.
“After Torquay, I decided I still wanted to play football with my friends but locally to home and less travelling- this is when I decided to form Helston Ladies with Charlotte Sparkes-Bond. It took a lot of commitment to form Helston but eventually we got accepted into the Cornwall Women’s league and had an extremely successful starting season.
“At Helston, we celebrated being league cup winners and also league runners up, but again, similar to other teams we lost commitment and the team ended up folding after a few years.
“From Helston I went to play briefly for Illogan, before getting the message I had been waiting for that Helston was reforming and Paul Parfitt would become manager.
“I met with Paul back in January 2019 and his plans for Helston made me excited and I knew I wanted to be back in a blue shirt so without hesitation signed – which brings me to the present day.”
Smara’s development and standing in the Cornish game is down to the amazing support she has received from an early age.
“There have been many people involved in my footballing career who have encourage and inspired me to keep playing and to play at the best level.
“The first and most important person involved is my Dad. My Dad was the most supportive parent I could have asked for throughout my footballing career and was always my number one fan. My Dad took Sash and I to every game and every training session regardless of distance and always encouraged us to do better.
Above: Smara (left) battles for possession in her Truro City days. Photo supplied by: Smara Sparkes-Bond.
“It was my Dad who got me into football before I started, taking Sasha and I to watch Liverpool and buying us our first kits. My Dad still comes and watches my games now.
“The second inspiration is my twin Sash. Playing alongside her throughout my whole footballing career has been amazing. Sash has always played the opposite position to me and therefore it’s been funny in training when we have had to play against each other.
“Sash does a lot for the ladies at Helston and is the perfect captain encouraging the whole team and doing as much off the pitch as she does on the pitch. Sash has always been a unbelievable goal scorer and I can’t remember any seasons where she hasn’t won top goal scorer.”
I asked Smara to describe herself as a player for those who have not seen her play.
“My playing position has changed over the years and I have been described by others as a versatile player who can comfortable play in any position within the defence or midfield.
“I have historically been known as a sweeper throughout my footballing career and have taken up this position again at Helston. I play with a confidence, believing in my ability to take on any challenge from any player. Through my experience in the sweeper position, I am vocal with supporting my team mates around me and often command from the back as the last man. I like to play out from the back. I have never been afraid of putting in a tackle and enjoy the successful sliding tackles.”
Above: Smara captured in action for Helston Athletic. Photo supplied by: Smara Sparkes-Bond.
Helston Athletic are a side on the rise in Cornwall. Last season ended with them them winning promotion to the tier six South-West League Division One West and play Southampton in the FA Cup. Smara outlines what life is like at the club.
“I cannot fault life at Helston and life as a blue. It’s the first club I have played at in 20 years where the treatment of men’s and women’s football has been the same.
“The support from the club is amazing and we regularly see Paul Hendy the chairman attending our matches along with members of the men’s first team.
“We have lots of support from the men’s first team manager Steve Massey, who rarely misses our matches and even has adopted the role of our linesman.
“As a women’s team we are extremely lucky to not have to pay any match fees or signing on fees and instead are provided amazing facilities and match day opportunities. My team mates are all extremely talented girls who are committed and motivated to make Helston the best we can be.
“Paul our manager is super dedicated to the team and is always making sure we have state of the art equipment and travelling options to our away fixtures. Off the pitch, we are regularly provided with team bonding days all expenses paid and this shows in our closeness on the pitch.”
Team GB gained the win which guarantees their place in the Quarter-Finals after victory in a tight game against Japan in Sapporo (Ellen White pictured above celebrating her goal by Getty Images).
Great Britain brought in Demi Stokes and Leah Williamson in defence in place of Millie Bright and Rachel Daly in a planned change by boss Hege Riise.
There were two other changes with Caroline Weir and Georgia Stanway dropping down to the bench with Sophie Ingle and Nikita Parris coming in.
Japan made the headline change of bringing Mina Tanaka in for Arsenal’s new signing Mana Iwabuchi, who averages a goal virtually every other game for her country.
Team GB started on the front foot with Kim Little pulling the strings and being involved in the majority of the play in their front third during this period.
Japan gained a chance when Hina Sugita beat Lucy Bronze who responded by diving in to concede a free kick on the edge of the left hand side of the box but Houghton headed clear.
On the eighteen minute mark, Great Britain pushed numbers forward with Bronze linking with Ellen White who had a shot deflected into the path of Ingle who earned a corner for her side.
Clear goal scoring opportunities were few and far between with both teams working hard to nullify their opponent’s offensive threats. The hosts were looking to particularly target the flanks of Great Britain with varying degrees of success.
Above: Mina Tanaka’s shot which went just wide of the post in the first half. Photo: Getty Images
With 33 minutes gone, there was a worrying moment in the Great Britain defence as they stood off and allowed Tanaka to get a shot in which was narrowly wide of Roebuck’s left hand post.
With the half progressing towards its final stages, Team GB’s sorties forward became rarer as Japan organised themselves to get several defenders around any British threat to nullify it at source.
This had the additional benefit for the host nation of ensuring that they began to gather more possession, connected to a deliberate ploy to hold onto it, patiently waiting for the right moment to pounce.
With neither side being able to produce anything consistently dangerous going forward, the half time goal-less score line was not unexpected.
Great Britain started the second half more energised with Parris buzzing around down the right and forcing an early corner, but Japan cleared with ease and Yui Hasegawa brought the ball away on the counter.
Shortly afterwards, Sugita was allowed to advance all the way down the left and play a ball in which the Team GB defence recovered to clear.
Above: Team GB captain Kim Little, who had another highly influential game against Japan. Photo: Getty Images.
Japan maintained their good organisation and hard work off the ball which continued to restrict chances for Great Britain.
Into the last twenty minutes, Keira Walsh let fly from outside of the box and the shot was deflected for a corner which was well held by Ayaka Yamashita in the Japanese goal.
Throughout the encounter, it was apparent that Great Britain were failing to take advantage of Japan’s long term problems in the air, particularly from set pieces as, instead of going high for the likes of White consistently, they remained tied to playing the ball on the surface. This inability to develop a flexible approach to what was in front of them may come back to haunt Team GB later in the competition.
Above: Great Britain celebrate after Ellen White’s flick header earned the win. Photo: Getty Images
Ironically, one of the few times that Great Britain did go with the high ball into the box, it resulted in a goal after 74 minutes. Little’s hard work by the corner flag led to her playing the ball back to Bronze. The Manchester City star’s lofted ball in was met by a flick header from White which was poorly managed in the air by Yamashita and Team GB were ahead.
Japan couldn’t raise themselves to force Ellie Roebuck into making saves after White’s goal and they now face a must win game against Chile in order to take third place in the group which would keep hopes of a place in the knock-out stages alive.
Hege Riise’s team will need to work on consistent accuracy of passing, as well as a more flexible tactical approach but, ultimately they have maximum points from their opening two games and have the knock-out stages to look ahead to. At the end of the day, that is all that matters right now.
@DandalBs rounds up all the news from a momentous week for Swedish women’s football (pictured above via Eurosport). As well as some news from the national camp, there’s a lot of movement on the transfer front.
NATIONAL TEAM NEWS:
Magdalena Eriksson missed Sweden’s outstanding win over the USA on the opening day of the women’s football event at the Olympic Games due to her continued recovery from the calf injury that caused her to leave the Sweden v Australia match 15th June. Team doctor Mats Börjesson says she needed a few more days’ full training before she can perform 100%.
These extra few days allowed her to receive the all clear to play against Australia today. She wanted to play already against USA, but the medical team said no, “and I have to trust they knows best” she said.
There also appears to be good news relating to the blow on the head that striker Stina Blackstenius’ received against the USA will not cause any problems, assures coach Peter Gerhardsson.
NEWS ROUND-UP:
BK Häcken’s Martin Ericsson has addressed Barcelona’s rumoured interest in Filippa Angeldahl by saying that there are no offers yet and “We will do what we can to keep her, but if you lose a good player, you want it to be to a club of that calibre”.
Staying at the club, Evelyn Ijeh, as well as her younger sister Josephine who is part of BK Häcken’s youth programme, has been called up to a Nigeria national team camp in Austria. Evelyn has about 20 caps for Sweden’s youth teams.
Rosengård have added to their Danish contingent with the arrival of 25 year-old national team midfield/forward Frederikke Thøgersen, most recently with ACF Fiorentina in Italian Serie A. She has signed a two year contract.
The current league leaders have also announced the signing of Iceland’s 26 year-old defender Guðrún Arnardóttir. She comes after two years with Djurgården and has eight caps for Iceland.
Above: New Rosengård signing Guðrún Arnardóttir (left) in action for Iceland recently against the Republic of Ireland. Photo: fotbolti.net
Japanese international forward Nicole Momiki has joined Linköping on loan from OL Reign until the end of the year. Momiki, presently with Japan at the Tokyo Olympics, was at Linköping on a previous loan spell 2020, but it was ended due to an injury.
Linköping have also announced the signing of Amalie Jørgensen Vangsgaard after a trial period with the club. A Danish offensive player, Vangsgaard has joined on a two and a half year contract. The 24 year-old comes from FC Nordsjælland in the Danish top league.
In preparation for their UEFA Women’s Champions League qualification ties, Kristianstad have set up a friendly against Norwegian champions and fellow UWCL qualifier Vålerenga on 2nd August.
Djurgården’s 26 year-old American defender Rachel Bloznalis has announced that she will take a break from football for health reasons. She received a head injury in March and is still suffering from symptoms.
DAMALLSVENSKAN:
Table from: svenskfotboll.se
The Damallsvenskan is presently on a break for the Olympic Games and returns on 20th August with the set of fixtures below:
Round Thirteen Fixtures:
Växjö v Vittsjö
Hammarby v Eskilstuna United
AIK v Djurgården
Piteå v Linköping
Rosengård v KIF Örebro
Kristianstads v BK Häcken
Ahead of those games, Hammarby have announced friendlies against Rosengård on 7th August and Vittsjö on 14th August.
ELITETTAN
The Elitettan is currently on a break during the Olympic Games. The next round of matches are scheduled to be played on 7-8th August:
Next matches: IF Brommapojkarna, IFK Norrköping, Bollstanäs SK v Jitex Mölndal, IFK Kalmar v Alingsås FC United, IK Uppsala v Älvsjö AIK FF, Mallbackens IF Sunne v Lidköpings FK, Sundsvalls DFF v Morön BK, Umeå IK v Borgeby FK.
Ben Gilby profiles one of the biggest stars in Australian sport, never mind Australian women’s football. A player he has been lucky enough to see develop since her mid teenage years, Sam Kerr (pictured above via insider.com).
“Ya know Daniel’s got a little sister who’s pretty handy at soccer!”
It was 2008, and I was sat at the cavernous Subiaco Oval home of West Coast Eagles, the Aussie Rules team in Perth who are followed by over 50,000 fans a week, watching my team being edged out by Sydney Swans.
The comment was made by a guy sat in the row behind me and marked the first time I was ‘introduced’ to Sam Kerr who would then have been 15 years old.
The ‘Daniel’ is her big brother, who starred for the Eagles from 2001 to 2013, playing 220 games and winning the 2006 AFL Premiership.
The next day, upon catching up with my family out there, being a football fan of the round ball variety, I asked them what they knew about ‘Daniel Kerr’s little sister.’ “Ah yeh, she’s some teenager who’s going to be playing with Perth Glory next season.”
Above: Sam in her early days at Perth Glory in a game against Canberra United. Photo: Wikipedia
With Perth Glory the team I’ve always supported out there due to those family links, it became very easy to follow the fortunes of a player who has hit the heights globally.
Sam grew up in East Fremantle, just up the Swan River from the Western Australia state capital Perth. She comes from a sporting background with her grandfather being a featherweight boxer and a grandmother who played basketball. Her father played professional Australian Rules Football and also soccer in the Western Australia state league.
Sam also has uncles who played the round ball game and others that were jockeys – one – J.J. Miller was a champion jockey and won the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s most prestigious horse race in 1966. As we have heard, brother Daniel was a star Australian Rules Footballer for West Coast Eagles where he won a Grand Final in front of 97,400 fans at the MCG in 2006 having been a runner-up in the previous year’s title decider.
Due to the domination of the sporting scene in Western Australia by Australian Rules Football, it is perhaps no surprise that Sam grew up playing that sport and only switched to soccer at the age of 12 partly due to restrictions for girls playing Aussie Rules at that time. Indeed, Sam famously told the Perth media in 2015 that for her as a youngster: “It was all AFL (Aussie Rules). I hated soccer as a kid. I never had a soccer ball around the house.
Kerr’s first club, at the age of 12 was Western Knights, based in Mosman Park just three miles from her home in East Fremantle. Within three years, Sam had attended trials for Western Australia’s state team and then moved across to Perth Glory, the state’s sole W-League side. Making her debut at the age of 15, she was named as the league’s Player’s Player of the Year in 2009 – an incredible statistic. Her stay at the Glory lasted until 2012 when she joined Sydney FC. Thirteen goals in twenty-four games was her return. In the same period, due to the way the Australian and American seasons are scheduled, Kerr played for Western New York Flash for the first NWSL season in 2013 and made it all the way to the Grand Final where they lost to Portland Thorns.
Above: Sam pictured with Melbourne City’s Steph Catley ahead of the 2017 W-League Grand Final. Photo: Once A Metro
She returned to home club Perth Glory who she represented in the W-League from 2014-19 in between spells in America. Back in the purple and orange of her local senior side, Kerr led the Glory to two W-League Grand Finals and won the Julie Dolan Medal as the best player in the W-League twice. She was in incredible form for the Western Australians, scoring a total of 52 goals in 49 games. In this period the East Fremantle born star spent two seasons with Sky Blue FC in the NWSL and in 2017, at the age of just 23 became the all-time top scorer in NWSL history. The same season saw her winning the NWSL Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player Award.
Kerr spent the 2018 and 2019 NWSL seasons with Chicago Red Stars, for whom she played in the Championship game. Her American adventure ended with the honour of being the first player to be named as the NWSL’s Most Valuable Player twice, and top scorer three times.
In November 2019, to great media fanfare, Kerr announced that she would join Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super League, and she made her debut in January 2020 and was part of the team who won the Continental Cup and FAWSL title. Her first goal came in the Blues’ 4-1 win at Arsenal with a header. Early in the 2020/21 season, Kerr was subjected to vicious online abuse – her “crime” was apparently not scoring enough goals.
Kerr has always been far more than a just a goal scorer. To emphasise this, it’s only really in the last couple of years that the Western Australian has become a prolific scorer for the Australian national side, the Matildas. In her first forty-nine caps for her country, Kerr had only scored eight goals. Her partnership with Lisa de Vanna for Australia pre 2019 was one which saw Sam in the role of a link up player – one who worked incredibly hard and created chances aplenty for her team mates. Something very similar to how Kerr began with Emma Hayes’ Blues. When de Vanna moved out of the Matildas side, Sam’s role changed and the goals came.
In the Chelsea side, Kerr built up a great early understanding with Beth England before the Lionesses star had a summer operation and missed much of the early season. In the period that she was receiving the online abuse, she had scored three goals in five FAWSL games – hardly the form of an inferior player. Chelsea and the FAWSL in general have a gem in their ranks and it was only a matter of time before Sam found her place in the new Chelsea side.
Above: Sam with new boss Emma Hayes as she was unveiled after signing with Chelsea at the end of 2019. Photo: Getty Images.
Once those early six weeks or so of the 2020/21 FAWSL season were gone, Sam developed one of the most potent striking partnerships with Fran Kirby, who was not able to play when Kerr joined the club in January due to the debilitating medical condition pericarditis, an inflammation of the fibrous sac that surrounds the heart which left the Lioness with sharp chest pain, fever, and a shortness of breath.
Indeed, as we reached the end of 2020, English fans began to see Kerr’s explosive pace and incredible aerial power that those of us who have watched Sam’s career from her teenage days love so much. A typical poacher’s hat-trick against West Ham United at the beginning of December meant that Kerr celebrated Christmas on a run of five goals in three games. Finally, the wider FAWSL became aware of just what a player the Queen of East Fremantle is.
If the end of 2020 was impressive, Kerr’s 2021 was off the scale as those critics were forced to not only eat their words but also forcibly regurgitate them. The partnership with Fran Kirby that was beginning to blossom exploded to maximum impact as the pair became one of the deadliest partnerships that women’s football had seen. A total of 28 goals in 34 games satisfied the critics, but what marked her out as a true star was the additional stat that she led Chelsea’s goal assists for the campaign as well.
International Career:
Kerr represented Australia an U17 and U20 level before making her senior debut for the Matildas at the age of 15 in February 2009 against Italy. A year later, she scored a goal in the AFC Asian Women’s Cup Final in North Korea when Australia lifted the trophy. Aged 17, Sam was selected in Australia’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad. Four years later, she was an integral part of the Matildas squad who made the Quarter-Finals of the tournament in Canada. For the 2019 World Cup in France, Kerr was named captain and scored five goals in Australia’s four matches. She presently has a total of 43 goals to go with her 94 caps (up to and including the opening game at the Olympics against New Zealand).
Above: Sam pictured in her early international days. Photo: worldfootball.net
Honours Won:
Sydney FC:
W-League Championship: 2012–13
Western New York Flash
NWSL Shield: 2013
Perth Glory:
W-League Premiership: 2014
Chelsea:
FA Women’s Super League: 2019/20, 2020/21
FA Women’s League Cup: 2019–20, 2020/21
FA Women’s Community Shield: 2020
Australia:
AFC Women’s Asian Cup: 2010
AFF U-16 Women’s Championship: 2009
Individual:
FFA Female U20 Footballer of the Year: 2010, 2014
PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019
Julie Dolan Medal: 2016–17, 2017-18.
W-League Golden Boot: 2017–18, 2018–19
Football Media Association International Player of the Year: 2013, 2014
NWSL Player of the Week: 2013: Week 9, 2016: Week 18, 2017: Weeks 9, 12 & 17. 2018: Weeks 15 & 22
NWSL Player of the Month: 2017: May and June
NWSL Golden Boot Award: 2017, 2018, 2019
NWSL Most Valuable Player Award: 2017 & 2019
NWSL Best XI: 2017, 2018, 2019
FAWSL Golden Boot Winner: 2020/21
Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year: 2017
ABC Sport Personality of the Year: 2017
Young Australian of the Year: 2018
ESPY Awards Best International Women’s Soccer Player: 2018 & 2019
The 100 Best Female Footballers In The World Winner: 2019
Records:
Most goals in the NWSL: 77
Most goals in an NWSL match: 4
Most goals in an NWSL season: 18
Most goals in the W-League: 69
Most goals in a W-League season: 16
Ben Gilby writes for Beyond90, Australia’s leading independent women’s football platform. Visit https://beyond90.com.au/
Catherine Paquette reviews all the action in Group E at the Olympics and looks ahead to tomorrow’s second round of action in the group.
Group E at the Olympic women’s football tournament contains Japan, Canada, Chile and Great Britain. The group got underway with the clash between Great Britain and Chile (pictured above – Ellen White and Steph Houghton celebrating via Telegraph).
Great Britain is appearing in its second Olympics. The squad is made up of a largely English contingent with two Scottish and one Welsh player. All of its players bar Wales’ Sophie Ingle had appeared at one or more other international tournaments.
All of Team GB’s players are fully professional with all apart from the USNWSL based Rachel Daly playing in the FA Women’s Super League.
In contrast, Chile is at its maiden Olympic Games. It is the second major non-regional tournament for the nation after the 2019 Women’s World Cup. The team is composed of several full time professionals, who ply their trade in the French Division 1, Swedish Damallsvenskan and Spanish Primera Liga. One of these players is Christiane Endler, widely considered the best goalkeeper in the world. Notably, Chile have not travelled without their record goal scorer, Cote Rojas, who has starred in the W-League for the past few seasons at Adelaide United.
The rest of the squad play in the largely semi-professional Chilean league. While the quality and investment in the league has increased dramatically in recent years, it is not to the standard of its continental counterparts.
The Chileans were therefore underdogs entering this match. It is fair to say that they fought a good game against a stronger opponent. From Great Britain’s part, for a team that had had very limited preparation time together and played just one closed-door match, they played like a well-oiled machine.
The British had a starting line-up set up in a 4-2-3-1. In contrast, the Chileans lined up with a 4-3-3.
Starting line-up for todays's #Tokyo2020 women's football match between @TeamGB & Chile's @LaRoja.
— Her Beautiful Game (@HerBeautifulGam) July 21, 2021
From the opening, Team GB largely dominated possession and the pace of play. They were able to pass their way around their Chilean opponents with ease, moving the ball quickly into space and got their first shot on goal in the fourth minute of the match.
Chile did originally put forward pressure on their highly rated opponents, contributing to a high original tempo. At times this meant that Great Britain had to progress backwards to hold the ball. However, Team GB kept finding spaces, generally finishing out wide with Lauren Hemp or Kiera Walsh, and then cutting or crossing into the box.
After several failed attempts on goal, and one successful shot called offside, the Brits finally found the back of the net after 18 minutes. With a successful build-up, where Team GB were able to safely commit players forward, Lucy Bronze crossed the ball in from the right-hand side of the box. It found an open Hemp on the far post whose header found Ellen White who converted the goal.
The Chileans did pick up some possession halfway through the first half and showed they could move it well. While the Brits did at times let them play the ball, without a hurried press, Chile’s attack struggled with turnovers, Team GB pressure closer to their goal and the blocking of passing lanes. This resulted in few chances for La Roja. In fact Chile’s only shot on goal came from Karen Araya in the 29th minute of the first half. She struck the ball from well out of the box. It was easily stopped by Ellie Roebuck. On the defensive side, with twenty shots on goal, seven on frame, the Chileans did find themselves several times struggling defensively to deal with Team GB’s offensive waves.
Another significant disadvantage for the Chileans was their lack of physical height, with which they struggled during aerial duels. It diminished the effective passing of long balls forward as they could be easily contested in the air by Team GB and increased their vulnerability in defence.
The Brits continued their tactic of controlled, possessive build-up early in the second half. White nearly doubled GB’s lead in the 55th minute when she shot a rebound from Endler wide of the goal. It looked like she might be awarded a penalty as her shot occurred during a Chilean tackle, however VAR ruled the play offside.
Above: Kim Little escapes from Chile’s Yessenia López (11). Photo: The Guardian
Nikita Parris and Sophie Ingle came on in the 68th minute for Hemp and Walsh respectively, while Mária Mardones came on for Yessenia López. The change did result in a great passing play several minutes later up front by the Brits. It concluded with a chip over the defence from Bronze that found an unmarked White who finished it beautifully. Team GB were up by two.
Bar one attack by Chile that did not end with a shot on goal, the rest of the match did not produce viable chances to change the result.
Particular standouts for Team GB were Lauren Hemp, Kim Little and of course Ellen White. Hemp caused constant trouble for the Chileans up the left side of the field for most of 68 minutes that she was on the pitch. Little for her part was elevated by her position alongside her British counterparts, being able to have the freedom to create and move forward that she does not always have in the Scottish midfield. She often dictated the play going through the midfield, and opened up attacks just by dropping a shoulder and turning, something she has shown often in her illustrious career.
White continued to show that she is a striker on form, capable of doing her job up front, but also contributing in holding the ball and applying pressure on opposition defenders.
The Chileans did have a few standouts themselves. Faced with a total twenty shots with seven on goal, Endler continued to show the goalkeeping skills, not having a perfect match as she made mistakes, but making saves to keep her team in the game. She also showed the leadership skills that resulted in her getting the captain’s armband. Her voice and stopping talent reduced the British damage that could have occurred.
Midfielders Francisca Lara and Karen Araya also had a good game. Even considering the lack of opportunities, they were good in bringing up the ball. They also good at providing defensive and interception skills when needed.
The second match of the group was between hosts Japan and Canada. Both teams have extensive Olympic and Women’s World Cup experience.
Japan won silver at the 2012 London Olympics and won the World Cup in the year prior. However, the team competing now is not the same as a decade ago, or even the team that reached the final of the women’s World Cup at Canada 2015. Japan are very much in a rebuilding phase. Still they are a very technical, experienced team whose players all play professional football in Japan, the American NWSL, the German Bundesliga, the English FAWSL, the Italian Serie A and the Swedish Damallsvenskan.
Canada for their part are double-defending-bronze medalists. A significant part of their cohort was on the podium in Rio 2016 and four players were also on the podium in London 2012. Their squad is also composed of nearly all professional players, from the American NWSL, the French Division 1, the Swedish Damallsvenskan, the English FAWSL and four players at the American collegiate level.
For this match the Japanese played with their traditional 4-4-2. In contrast the Canadians played with a 4-2-3-1.
— Her Beautiful Game (@HerBeautifulGam) July 21, 2021
Christine Sinclair, team Canada’s captain and the international goal scoring record holder, man or woman, was making her 300th appearance for her nation. She had stated before that she had scored on her 100th and 200th appearance and hoped to score in her 300th. Her hopes were answered in the 6th minute of play.
A nice pass from Ashley Lawrence out wide right to Nichelle Prince was passed into the box to Sinclair. She shot on goal but the ball hit the post. Reminding everyone how she became the all-time international goal scorer she then followed up her own rebound to put it in for a dream start.
The goal buoyed the Canadian team who then went on to dominate possession for the first 20 minutes of play. The pressure from the Canadians was continuous, from their defence into the Japanese half. However, like they have struggled for a while, they were not able to break through the final third.
The Japanese, when they started to advance themselves in the latter part of the first half, also struggled there. The first half saw only one shot on goal from the Canadians and two missed shots from the Japanese.
The Japanese made one change at halftime, bringing on Yuika Sugasawa for an ineffectual Mina Tanaka. Drama then occurred in the early part of the second half.
Charging an oncoming ball in her box, Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé was deemed to have made contact with the incoming Japanese striker in a VAR review. After a good seven minute injury break Labbé indicated to her medical team she felt OK to continue. She then saved Mina Tanaka’s penalty to keep her team in the lead. However, several minutes later while clearly in pain, Labbé was replaced by Kailen Sheridan.
A few moments later it seemed like the Canadians had doubled their lead, when a scuffed ball in front of the Japanese goal was put in by Janine Beckie. However, it was ruled offside. The Canadians continued to control the match, and contain the host nation’s team through the second half.
Above: Canada’s Kadeisha Buchanan shields the ball from Japan’s Mina Tanaka. Photo: Fan Duel.
This lack of production also continued into the second half. While the Canadians were largely the stronger side in the half, their defence did well to stop Japanese advances, but there continued to be a struggle to connect between their midfielders and forwards.
Japan found a breakthrough though in the 84th minute. Mana Iwabuchi received a pass distributed from inside her own half which flew to just outside the Canadian box. She managed to get in behind the too date very good Canadian defence. She took her shot of the first touch, catching keeper Sheridan off guard, and struck it in.
Despite several further substitutions, neither side was able to grab the three points as the game ended 1-1.
The Canadians left clearly disappointed with their display. During parts of the match they lacked something that is often described as un-Canadian, selfishness. There were times where Beckie, Prince and Jess Fleming should have tried for goal instead of passing to a teammate.
This is not a new phenomenon, A bit more individual ruthlessness could have put the Canadians up by another goal or two and assured them the win. It is a shame for them, as they had played better for most of the match, to drop two important points so late in the game.
The standout players for this match for Canada were their defensive pairing of Shelina Zadorsky and Kadeisha Buchanan. Their defensive strength, despite the goal, and distribution allowed the Canadian midfield to move further up and control the ball for significant parts of the match. Christine Sinclair scoring on her 300th appearance, by essentially assisting herself, is also an important mention.
From the Japanese side the player that put in a good performance was Mana Iwabuchi. She only had one shot on goal but she capitalized on it. The good link up play from her half and her one touch timing proved deadly.
Upcoming matches:
Japan v Great Britain
The order of games was a blessing in a way for Great Britain in order to build their cohesion and confidence. Tomorrow’s game will be more challenging.
The Japanese are much more technical and showed they can be deadly. Currently on only one point they will not want to wait until the last match to ensure they make the knock out stages. They may come out with more urgency than they did against Canada.
However, it is still my opinion that Great Britain is the better team. The formation they used against Chile, the 4-2-3-1, is the same the Canadians used against the Japanese. While they were not effective in the final third, this is due to Canadian problems with their link up from midfield to strikers and not due to tactics.
Great Britain know their formation works, and as they are not a team that is as familiar with each other with their changes as their opponents may be, sticking to the same 4-2-3-1 is important. The height advantage they had against Chile will again be present against their Japanese adversaries as well.
Japan should have the same problems against Team GB that they had against Canada. Both have teams with steady back lines. Finding more opportunities to penetrate behind will be imperative if the Japanese hope to get more than one shot on goal.
Canada v Chile
The same issues that Chile had against Team GB will once again reappear against Canada. They play quite similar to the British, although with a sturdier back line but less link up play up front. However, the Canadians will be entering this match knowing they must win against Chile.
Known for being able to rally, and with the talent and experience to do so, some of the restraint they displayed against the better skilled Japanese may disappear. It will be imperative for the Chilean back line to try to remained disciplined and minimize Canadian chances.
Reducing Canadian passing lanes as much as possible, and keeping the ball when they have it will be important for the Chileans if they want any chance of trying to be more offensive. Capitalizing on opportunities, being patient and not wasting the chances close to net, will be important if they stand any chance of trying to have an upset as the one the Swedes had with the Americans.
Above: The Matildas celebrate Sam Kerr’s goal against New Zealand. Photo: The Guardian
In the five games prior to the Olympics, the question was how to best “activate Sam Kerr?”
The opening game against New Zealand and the first half in particular showed that it is about getting the best out of the entire front three.
The captain and number 2(0) scored one and set up the other but the attacking trio of Kerr, Caitlin Foord and Kyah Simon were fluid, interchangeable and versatile.
They switched positions and roles, Kerr would move out wide and Simon would move through the middle. Foord ran at the New Zealand defence aggressively while Simon would drop deep to try and create with long passes or crosses.
This was the best attacking display by the Matildas and they should have had more goals. An open header by Foord and a few opportunities to Simon are the sorts of chances that cannot go begging against Sweden and the U.S.A but the team looked dangerous in a variety of ways.
Kerr draws the ball, it is part of what makes her so prolific, but in this game she drew players and it left teammates like Raso and Foord one-on-one situations.
Above: Kyah Simon was at her creative best as part of a fluid, interchangeable front three against New Zealand. Photo: The Guardian
This sort of space was perfectly exploited for the first goal. Simon got the ball to Kerr who flicked it into the path of Tameka Yallop. The Brisbane midfielder’s run was well timed and untracked. While New Zealand were concerned with the Chelsea star, Yallop had the time to take a touch into the area and the skill to finish.
The space also existed in part because Foord held her position out on the left. The New Zealand defense was static, but it was also stretched across the width of penalty area. By the time Yallop steamed through on goal it was too late for them to react.
Gustavsson started with a front three that have played together for almost a decade. The chemistry was on full display in this game and is an encouraging sign for the rest of the tournament.
The tests continue, Australia should not be frightened of Sweden. But they will be aware that they will probably not have another 18 shots on goal and their conversation rate will matter more than it did here.
A late goal almost cancelled the celebrations and on Saturday they will have to take the chances they make. What this game showed is that they can create them.
It is too early to say that they are back to their best, but they look like they are on their way.
Pictured above: Tameka Yallop celebrates after her stunning opening goal. Photo: Getty Images.
Australia produced an impressive performance against their Trans-Tasman rivals to claim an important three points in their opening game at the Olympic Games. However, there will be a degree of frustration at the fact that they didn’t score as many goals as their possession deserved – and at the late concession of a goal to the Football Ferns.
Both teams made an impressive stand against racism before kick-off. During the team photos, the Matildas proudly display the Aboriginal flag in a show of solidarity and New Zealand take a knee while Australia choose to stand together linking arms.
Above: The two teams make a stand against racism pre-kick off. Top: The Matildas display the Aboriginal flag Photo: Guardian. Bottom: New Zealand take the knee. Photo: stuff.co.nz
Australia kick off and apply immediate pressure as the ball goes straight into the box. It’s cleared out to the side by NZ keeper Erin Naylor and the Ellie Carpenter throw in bounces around the box before being cleared by CJ Bott.
A long ball from Clare Polkinghorne goes right into the box and the Naylor clearance goes to Green as Simon jumps on her back from behind, AFL style, giving away a foul. Emily Van Egmond and Kyah Simon do a little passing routine through the midfield before Van Egmond sends one up to Sam Kerr but it’s a bit beyond her. Van Egmond seems to be much more attacking in this game already and is sending the ball forward.
Olympics debutant Aivi Luik brings the ball up and sends it to Steph Catley who finds Caitlin Foord. The Arsenal star beats Meikayla Moore but can’t keep the ball in and Katie Bowen brings it back down the pitch. She’s relieved of the ball and Van Egmond takes a run and gets it back to Foord. Her cross floats in front of goal, only to be punched away by Naylor as Simon arrives. The most exciting play so far.
Hayley Raso’s first involvement comes via a run down the right after a big switch of play by Van Egmond results in a corner as her cross is deflected by Green. Catley takes the corner but Abby Erceg heads it out safely. It lands with Australia again and Van Egmond sends a great ball to Foord in the box. It once more deflects off a Kiwi for a corner as she kicks it back into play. The difference in Van Egmond from the previous five games is truly astounding. Everything is going forward and the strikers are getting the ball.
Catley takes the corner again and Simon gets her head to it but it goes across the goal and out to the right corner where NZ picks it up. Carpenter relieves them of the ball and whips it back in. Erceg gets a leg to it and it looks like it might be an own goal but Naylor bats it safely past before being cleared by Bott.
The next clearance by Naylor isn’t great and goes to Simon who passes it back in. It comes out to Tameka Yallop who passes to Simon who finds Kerr before the Chelsea star returns possession to Yallop. She takes a mighty shot and slams it over the head of Naylor and Australia finally score. It’s 1-0 at 20 minutes in after a period of intense pressure from the Matildas.
Above: Tameka Yallop celebrates with Hayley Raso after opening the scoring against New Zealand. Photo: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP via Getty Images.
On a NZ attack, Luik tackles and intercepts the ball before getting it away to Foord who brings it down the left. She centres to Simon who flicks on to Kerr in the box. She takes a shot but Erceg is there to save the day for the Kiwis and it’s deflected out for another corner. Catley’s taking it. She lobs to Kerr who heads it straight to Naylor. It goes over her head but she gets a hand to it which deflects it into the crossbar and behind her and into goal. It’s Sam’s first goal in six matches and the hoodoo is lifted amidst scenes of joy as the Matildas go clear by two goals.
NZ fight back and get a bit of possession. Ria Percival sends a ball into goal but Lydia Williams has it under control and there’s no one else in the box to bother her. Foord has a lovely run down the left but is stopped by Erceg. After all that, she’s called offside and it has to go right back to nearly halfway for the free kick.
With the half reaching its climax, Catley and Kerr combine to threaten the Football Ferns goal once more with a 1-2 before Catley’s cross finds a diving Simon to head it to Naylor. Not quite enough power on it as she took it very low.
Green sends a long ball into the box for Hannah Wilkinson which sees both her and Williams jump for it but Williams is able to grab it with few problems. With the whistle for the interval going, the Matildas are looking good with lots of attacking play and their offensive players all getting forward. As well as leading 2-0 on the scoreboard, Australia have seven shots to nil in the opening 45 minutes.
Above: Sam Kerr celebrates after scoring. Photo: Getty Images.
The Kiwis are looking livelier in the second half. Betsy Hassett is right in front of goal but it floats right over her head to the other side of the box.
The Matildas respond when Simon shoots but it’s headed away. Carpenter crosses straight back in but Kerr can’t connect and it goes out via Erceg, according to Kerr. Australia doesn’t get the corner though.
Australia are now back to mounting wave after wave of attack. Kerr runs onto a ball from Foord and Naylor comes out and blocks brilliantly. Kerr is involved again when she finds Catley. Her centre reaches Foord who finds some space for a great header stopped again by Naylor who’s having a brilliant game.
NZ regroup for a rate attack aided by a scary moment for Williams in the Matildas goal. A ball in sees the Arsenal goalkeeper come right out to the edge of the box, get wrong footed and fall over, leaving the goal wide open. Carpenter recovered in time to clear the cross. It was a big mistake from Williams that could have been disastrous.
Above: Ria Percival attempts to get past Tameka Yallop. Photo: Getty Images.
The Football Ferns make an important change by bringing Paige Satchell, who had a magnificent season with Canberra United in the W-League. She has an immediate impact bringing the ball into the box. She passes to Daisy Cleverley who gets it to Bott. Bott’s flick finds it Percival who’s bundled down by Foord who is very lucky not to give away a penalty.
Erceg saves another cross from Catley, marking Kerr closely. Bott gets a yellow card for a late tackle that cleans up Polkinghorne. Carpenter crosses to Simon and Naylor saves yet again. Both she and Erceg have saved many goals tonight. Van Egmond takes the corner but it floats over past the far post and is eventually cleared.
Catley is then on the receiving end of a succession of tough challenges. From one, Katie Bowen takes the Arsenal star out and gets a yellow card for her efforts.
Raso goes off and Alanna Kennedy comes on in a more defensive move. NZ get a free kick on the right and Bowen takes it again. Australia has a very high line for this kick. Williams is off her line quite a bit and has to back pedal as Bowen tries for the top corner. It just misses but that was a tactical error by Australia and was very close.
Mary Fowler comes on as a sub, and has another energetic cameo. She takes a shot that rebounds to Carpenter who crosses. Very nearly goes in but skims the far post and goes out.
Above: Just minutes after coming on for her international debut, Gabi Rennie scored for New Zealand. Photo: NZ Football.
There’s a substitution for NZ with Gabi Rennie coming on for her international debut for the Football Ferns, and she has an big impact.
Satchell brings the ball down the left side and passes to Wilkinson. She crosses to the far post and Percival gets a head to it and send it back across the goal to Rennie who wrong foots Williams with her header and it’s a goal for New Zealand. Rennie’s been on less than five minutes and has scored on her debut. 2-1 and Australia is still in the lead with a minute to go.
It’s a disappointing finish for Australia as goal difference is going to be important in this competition as they will determine who goes through to the quarter-finals for the third placed teams. It’s still three points in the bag though and that puts the Matildas in second place in the group. It also puts NZ third and USA last with Sweden at the top.
Despite the late concession, it was a good showing for Australia. They looked dominant the whole match and kept NZ out of the box for almost the whole match.
They were far more attacking than previous matches and the formation seemed to work well against the Football Ferns. Still, Kerr was kept largely out of the match, particularly in the second half, thanks to very tight marking by Erceg. The Matildas looked much better in the midfield and the defence looked very strong.
Carpenter and Catley were free to come up and attack and they did it well and were able to connect with Raso and Foord. Kerr had a bit more involvement and was able to score finally.
For NZ, Erceg and Naylor really stood out. Bott had a great game too and Bowen was able to serve in some critical balls from free kicks. They were pretty solid in defence but really didn’t make many inroads in attack until right at the end when Satchell and Rennie came on. Wilkinson just couldn’t do it all by herself.
Next match for Australia is against Sweden who beat the USA in their opening match in a stunning upset. Sweden looked very strong in that match and Australia will need to step up to win that game. It’s not beyond them but one shouldn’t put too much faith in the last result where the teams drew 0-0 as Sweden had a few of their key players missing. The game is on Saturday 24th July at 9:30am GMT/6.30pm AEST. New Zealand will play the USWNT at 12:30pm GMT/9.30pm AEST and the US will be desperate for a win. The group of death is looking very interesting.
Speaking after the game, Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson said: “One of the headlines we had in the attacking game today was movements off the ball.
“We knew playing New Zealand is very physical if you play static and they like to get into those duels. You need to move a lot off the ball and play fast, and I think we did that today.”
Gustavsson had plenty of words of praise for his team’s two goalscorers:
“If you look at that technical action that Sam did with the assist to Meeks, with a brilliant finish, nice combination play straight from the training park that we’ve worked on as well.
“That flick that Sam did and the finishing from Meeks is a beautiful goal, and then the corner with Sam’s technique with her head.
“We’ve said from day one, it needs to be a collective attack, and it was the collective attack that won us this game, but obviously it’s good that Sam gets more involved in a game and that’s something that we’ve worked very hard on as well, to get her more on the ball.
“She’s a multi-dimensional forward but I don’t think she gets enough credit for her pressing game. I think she’s one of the best defensive forwards in the world.
“That first goal has come from our pressing game as well, and that’s one reason why I brought Meeks into the central midfield in this game with her presence when it comes to our pressing game but also her runs from deep, and you saw that in that 1-0 goal.”
The Netherlands (pictured above via @oranjevrouwen) have reached their last two major finals and many suspect they pose the biggest threat to the USA at the Olympics. Abi Ticehurst previews the Dutch side.
Squad News:
This squad is unlikely to have raised too many eyebrows with selection. Danielle Van de Donk often goes under the radar because she’s not a prolific scorer or a flair player, but any opportunity to talk about her and those cheeky nutmegs, count us in. The front three, Vivianne Miedema, Lieke Martens and Shanice van de Sanden are menaces in front of goal, 141 goals between with Miedema counting for more than half with 73.
A driving force midfield with all five selected players capable of getting on the scoresheet. However, a devastating blow hit the team just the day before the tournament is due to kick off as captain Sherida Spitse, is ruled out due to an injury, she will be replaced by Joelle Smits.
Keepers: Sari van Veenendaal, Lize Kop, Loes Geurts
Defenders: Lynn Wilms, Stefanie van der Gragt, Aniek Nouwen, Merel van Dongen, Sisca Folkertsma, Kika van Es, Dominique Janssen, Annouk Dekker
Midfielders: Danielle van de Donk, Victoria Pelova, Jackie Groenen, Inessa Kaagman, Joelle Smits.
Forwards: Jill Roord, Shanice van de Sanden, Vivianne Miedema, Lieke Martens, Lineth Beerensteyn, Renate Jansen
Coach:
Above: Dutch head coach Sarina Wiegman. Photo: @oranjevrouwen
Sarina Wiegman – She is arguably Dutch football royalty, a central midfielder come defender, she made her international debut at 17 and was the first Dutch footballer to win 100 caps.
She spent her youth career at various Dutch teams ESDO, Celeritas and KFC ’71 before being spotted by Ansen Dorrance and recruited for North Carolina Tar Heels where she would play alongside Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly for a year. She returned to the Netherlands to play for Ter Leede for 10 years. She won the Dutch Cup twice and the KNVB Cup once during her tenure, before retiring.
Wiegman has gone from stride to stride in terms of her managerial career, initially taking over at Ter Leede and then ADO Den Haag before making her way through the ranks of the national team. She was awarded The Best FIFA Women’s Coach title in 2017, in the same week she was accepted as a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau as a result of winning the Netherlands Women’s first European Championship title and first ever major honour within women’s football.
In 2019 a statue of Wiegman was erected in the garden of the Dutch Football Association, KNVB, for her contributions to Dutch football. She was the first woman to receive this honour. She is consistently praised by fellow football managers for the style of play she has developed with the squad. Finally, unless you’ve been living under a rock for at least the last year, she is of course, the next England manager, officially replacing Phil Neville with her tenure beginning in November of this year.
Olympics History:
It may be surprising to know that the Netherlands Olympic History is fairly short in chronology. The Netherlands failed to qualify for the World Cups between 1996 and 2012, therefore failing to make it to the Olympics.
In 2016, they qualified for the World Cup and competed in a mini-tournament for an Olympics place, however Sweden won the tournament and the Dutch were unfortunately eliminated. A change in fortunes saw them make it to the World Cup Final and and as a result made it to the Olympics for the first time to compete at Tokyo 2020.
Qualifying:
As above, they made it to the World Cup Final in 2019 and therefore qualified for the first time to compete at Tokyo.
Strengths:
Positional awareness, the team are able to hold their shape well despite consistently pacey attacks. Sari van Veenendaal, the powerhouse between the sticks.
Development Areas:
Potentially their lack of high level international experience, though not new to world football, their limited ability to qualify until recently may prove a challenge on the big stage. Losing their captain, it will take a big personality to fill the boots of Spitse.
Above: Lieke Martens. Photo: @oranjevrouwen
Key Players:
Viv Miedema, the all-time leading scorer in the FAWSL and for the Netherlands. Need we say more? Fresh from the Champions League winning Barcelona squad, Lieke Martens is a terror in front of goal, the link up between her and Miedema will undoubtedly be a satisfying display of talent. Jill Roord was prolific for Arsenal during the 2020/21 season and takes that cool calmness on the ball with her to the international stage, she’s capable of commanding the midfield and confident to strike at goal.
One to watch:
Aniek Nouwen, she’s a defender with 15 goals in 69 appearances to her name with Dutch side PSV. Impressive. She’s played internationally at every level from U17’s before making her senior debut in 2019 and scored her first goal in October of 2020, one of seven which saw the Dutch side qualify for Euro 2022. She signed a three year contract with Chelsea in May and will make her first appearance for the club in the 2021/22 season.
Prediction:
They should find qualification out of the group stages fairly straightforward, Brazil is their main competition in Group F. They’re on a trajectory of international success though so don’t rule them out of the latter stages of the competition.
Above: Vivianne Miedema and Jill Roord. Photo: @oranjevrouwen
Group Fixtures inc KO times (local/UK)
21st July v Zambia (Miyagi Stadium, Rifu, 12:00pm UK)
24th July v Brazil (Miyagi Stadium, Rifu, 12:00pm UK)
27th July v China (International Stadium, Yokohoma, 12:30pm UK)
Shown above, Ellen White celebrating (Photo via iNews).
It was not easy for Chile against a strong Team GB side. However, the South Americans tried to play when they had the ball, and they did not sit back and defend.
La RojaFemenina’s undoing often came on high balls, in the midfield and on crosses into their box. This was notably reflected in Great Britain’s opening goal on 18 minutes when the hugely impressive Lauren Hemp, picked out by Impetus’ Darrell Allen as Team GB’s one to watch, played in Ellen White to poke home.
Great Britain dominated the first half with 62% possession and Chile players had only two shots, one of which was on target. Christiane Endler was, as usual, at her best and ensured that Team GB only led 1-0 at half time by saving three potential further goals.
In this first half Chile midfielder Francisca Lara did a rather good job (more than 20 balls played, 17 passes with 16 successful), but it was not enough to put the danger in front of the Great Britain goal.
Above: Caroline Weir (11) in possession for Team GB with Lauren Hemp (left) and Chile’s Maria Jose Urrutia. Photo: The News Motion
Chile tried to start the second half by playing quicker but it lasted only a few minutes and Team GB took charge again, mustering virtually identical possession stats.
During this second half, Chile had no shot at all, while, Great Britain had eight and doubled their lead after 73 minutes when Lucy Bronze’s ball in was met by White’s acrobatics for 2-0.
The last fifteen minutes were a real challenge of the game were a real challenge for Chile as Great Britain pushed to increase their advantage – ultimately to no avail.
Despite the defeat, this Chilean team are pleasant to watch and showed that they can play good football but the difference in experience and higher level exposure between themselves and Team GB was too big a gulf to bridge.
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