Australian girlfriend Van de Donk dreams of the final against the Orange

Ellie Carpenter, the right back of the Australian national team and the girlfriend of Dutch midfielder Daniëlle van de Donk, dreams of a World Cup final against the Dutch. “If it comes to that, I will go for it. As soon as I step onto that field, I will not play against my girlfriend, but she is just an opponent for me. Just like everyone else.”

A possible final between Australia and the Netherlands has come a step closer since the Australians’ win over Denmark (2-0) in the eighth final on Monday. Carpenter played for more than 75,000 spectators in a sold-out stadium in Sydney. “It’s fantastic, the support you get here is on a completely different level than anything I’ve ever experienced. There were people so high up in the stadium that I couldn’t even see them,” said 23-year-old Carpenter.

It was a “big downer” for Van de Donk that she was suspended for the quarterfinals, Carpenter said. “I tried to encourage her. Fortunately, she has a lot of support from her fellow players and the staff, who make her feel that she has already done a lot to get the team to where it is today.” According to Carpenter, Van de Donk will be replaced in midfield by Damaris Egurrola. “She knows Spain from the inside out. I have confidence in this Orange.”

Australia also performs well in this tournament, according to Carpenter. “I am very proud that we are still here, while we were seen as underdogs. Before every game we agree that we will go for a clean sheet. Keeping a clean sheet is more important to us than scoring.”

Carpenter and Van de Donk know each other from France, where they both play at Olympique Lyon. The Australian likes that the 32-year-old Dutch is now on Carpenter’s side of the world. “We have so much to offer ‘Down Under’ here.” Whether that also means that the two will eventually end up in Australia, Carpenter (23) did not dare to say. “My football career logically lasts even longer than Danielle’s. I just see where I can continue to play football and where it takes us.”

Source: ANP

2023-08-10 21:11:54
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