National coach Mark Parsons is looking forward to a squatter at the European Championship: ‘Duel with Sweden immediately highlight’ | Football

The Netherlands and Sweden met each other two years ago in the semi-finals of the World Cup in France. Then the Orange squad won 1-0, thanks to a good long shot by Jackie Groenen.

The Lionesses and Russia also met in the qualifying series towards the European Championship. The Netherlands won 2-0 and 1-0.

Sarina Wiegman, now at the helm of the English national team, awaits matches against two-time European champions Norway, Austria and Northern Ireland.

The European Championship, which was postponed by a year due to the corona pandemic, starts on July 6 with a duel between England and Austria. The final will take place on July 31 at Wembley in London.

Parsons: European Championship match with Sweden immediately highlight

Parsons is not shocked by the outcome of the European Championship draw in Manchester. The Orange squad will have to take on Sweden, Switzerland and Russia as the title holder in the group stage next summer in England. The 35-year-old Englishman speaks of “challenging opponents.”

Parsons is especially looking forward to the first group match on July 9 against title contender Sweden, the number 2 in the world ranking and also the number 2 of the Olympic Games in Japan last summer. “That duel is immediately a highlight for the entire tournament,” says Parsons from Portland. “I see it as an advantage to meet such a strong country early in the tournament.”

The first two countries of group C, with matches in Sheffield and Wigan, qualify for the quarter-finals. Normally, Switzerland and Russia are the teams that drop out after the group stage. “But there is a lot of quality in this group,” says Parsons, who will finish his work as a club trainer of Portland Thorns until the end of the American competition (with play-offs at the end of November). “We know from Switzerland and Russia how they play tactically. We have met many times in the past. We know the individual qualities of their players.”

Parsons is already looking forward to the European Championship. “It will be the strongest European title tournament we have ever seen.”

FIFA-ranking

Sweden is currently the highest placed European country in the FIFA ranking. The Scandinavians occupy second place behind world champions America. Followed by Germany, the Netherlands and France. England is in eighth place and is the number five in Europe. Switzerland and Russia are respectively the numbers 20 and 24 in the world.

The Orange women celebrate after the won final against Denmark.

Ⓒ HH/ANP

Defending champions

The Lionesses travel to England as defending champions. Five years ago, the Orange women set the Netherlands on fire by taking the overall victory in their own country. It was the definitive breakthrough for the football players, who ‘confirmed’ two years later with silver at the World Cup in France.

Vivianne Miedema played a prominent role in the introductory video during the draw. The top scorer of the Orange squad, playing for Arsenal at club level, telephoned former English player (now an analyst) Alex Scott about how she could safely get the trophy won by the Netherlands to England. In the end, it was Sarina Wiegman who put down the prize in the studio.

Sarina Wiegman during a training of the English football women.

Ⓒ HH/ANP

Sarina Wiegman

Wiegman left Zeist last summer. The Hague is now at the helm of the English football women. In conversation with De Telegraaf, she said earlier this year that she would like a clash with the Orange at Wembley, which would mean that the Netherlands and England are in the final.

“That would be a great poster. At least I know I want to win then, haha. Such a final would be mega special and it would mean that we have it on track with England and that we have left the Orange well behind. Of course I hope that the Netherlands will continue to grow.”

Full draw

Pool A

• England
• Norway
• Austria
• Northern Ireland

Pool B

• Germany
• Spain
• Denmark
• Finland

Pool C

• The Netherlands
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Russia

Pool D

• France
• Italy
• Belgium
• Iceland