“The hunt is on,” read an orange banner yesterday. The Dutch had come to Leuven with only one goal: to win.
Because not only the Nations League kicked off yesterday, the search for an Olympic ticket also started.
The team that finishes at the top of the group (which, in addition to the low countries, also includes England and Scotland), is one match away from a ticket to Paris 2024.
Losing against Belgium was therefore out of the question, especially with European champions and World Cup finalist England in the group.
National coach Andries Jonker makes no bones about it. “We just have to win this match. Our players play in the top teams and we have just been to the World Cup.”
But the Netherlands had few answers to disrupt the Belgian defense.
“Too little speed, hardly any creativity and a lack of sharpness when it really needs to be there,” is the analysis in the Volkskrant. “The Netherlands lacked a lot to win a match.”
“Normally, number eighteen in the world rankings should not be a problem, but Belgium smelled and took the opportunity against a dull Dutch team.”
“We saw at the World Cup that the top is developing well, but the middle and sub-top are doing much better,” Jonker adds.
“Our opening goal was not a surprise to anyone, but the 1-1 certainly was.”
And things went from bad to worse for the Orange Lionesses, because in the absolute final, goalkeeper Weimar made a blunder and Blom headed the final score onto the board.
“If you don’t take advantage of your opportunities, you’ll be screwed,” Jonker summarizes.
There was great joy among the Flames, who had not been able to win against their northern neighbors since 2016.
“Just before the World Cup, in which they did not participate, they even lost 5-0 to the Dutch team,” said De Volkskrant.
And De Telegraaf also noticed that the World Cup seemed far away in Leuven.
“Although it should not be an excuse, the gloomy setting in which the Derby of the Low Countries took place did not play a role either. Where the Dutch team had closed the World Cup in the filled, seething Wellington Regional Stadium, barely a few thousand spectators had attended the match in Leuven.”
“The Belgians celebrated the winning goal as if they had won the world title. And not without reason, because Belgium does not beat the Netherlands that often.”
On Tuesday evening, the Flames play in Scotland and the Dutch host England.
