Vivianne Miedema has insisted she is going to “not be mates” together with her companion Beth Mead on Wednesday because the Netherlands striker vowed to do the whole lot in her energy to ship her group to the knockout phases of Euro 2025 and remove England.
The Manchester Metropolis striker has been in a relationship with the Arsenal ahead Mead, her former Arsenal teammate, for 3 years and Miedema was requested concerning the prospect of them dealing with one another within the pivotal Group D match. “If it's not a pleasant second for Beth, it's not an issue for me,” Miedema mentioned. “Tomorrow for as soon as we won't be mates. I'll do the whole lot I can to win tomorrow. If I've to do one thing that isn't good for Beth, then I'll do it.
“I don't suppose she'll converse to me for a bit [if we win] but it surely's robust. I even have a few of my finest mates on that [England] group. It's a part of soccer. It's a part of the sport. I've most likely been on the opposite finish of it [more, losing]. I'll be comfortable for us if we get by tomorrow.
“We each know what we're going by. It's an important event. Our golden rule is we don't talk about something [pre-match]. I don't know whether or not she'll be beginning tomorrow or whether or not she'll be on the bench. As a Dutch participant I'll do the whole lot attainable to win the sport.”
Miedema, who scored her one centesimal senior worldwide purpose in a 3-0 win in opposition to Wales on Saturday, urged her Netherlands teammates to be cautious of England's threats, regardless of their opening 2-1 defeat in opposition to France: “They will flip up tomorrow and be completely unreal so we should be prepared.”
That was a sentiment echoed by the Netherlands head coach, Andries Jonker, who performed down the importance of England having been crushed by France, saying: “Within the first 20 minutes, England performed very effectively. I'm a coach, I take a look at the details. Their second half was an excellent battle. The media [reaction] it's fairly dramatic. That's not my cup of tea. However within the first 20 minutes, I noticed a very good England group.”
Fast InformationWiegman's England v Netherlands: earlier conferences
Present
The England head coach has confronted her nation of start 3 times since taking up the Lionesses 4 years in the past:
England 5-1 Netherlands, 24 June 2022, Leeds
England had been completely dominant within the 5-1 win, a consequence that may have given them an enormous confidence increase earlier than the Euros on dwelling soil the next month. The Dutch took an early lead at Elland Street by Lieke Martens however Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead, Lauren Hemp (2) and Ella Toone scored for England to safe a really snug victory. “It was a really tough night,” mentioned the Netherlands coach, Mark Parsons.
Netherlands 2-1 England, 26 September 2023, Utrecht
Wiegman was given an ovation in Utecht earlier than the sport, having been in control of the Dutch group after they received the Euros in 2017. England had been second finest for a lot of the night though they may depend themselves unfortunate as Daniëlle van de Donk was clearly offside within the buildup to the Netherlands' first purpose. Alessia Russo equalised within the second half earlier than Renate Jansen settled the competition with a Ninetieth-minute screamer into the highest nook.
England 3-2 Netherlands, 1 December 2023, London
“I really feel a bit unusual,” Wiegman mentioned after England had come from behind to win 3-2 after a late Toone purpose. For 45 minutes at Wembley, England had seemed destined to throw away their Nations League and Olympic qualifying hopes because the guests dominated and Lineth Beerensteyn scored twice earlier than half-time. Georgia Stanway and Hemp scored inside a minute of one another across the hour-mark earlier than Toone's late intervention. The next month England beat Scotland 6-0 however misplaced out on a spot on the 2024 Olympics for Group GB on purpose distinction. Nasra Abdi and Ervin Ang
England ideally want a victory to revive the defence of their European title, and the Lionesses know that – in the event that they lose – they'd be eradicated in a while Wednesday night time until Wales defeat France. However their head coach, Sarina Wiegman, seemed to be embracing the strain, saying: “Taking part in at this degree makes it particular. Taking part in matches like these makes it particular. For this reason we're doing it. These are the very best matches you may presumably dream of.
“We knew earlier than the event it will be a troublesome group. You wish to win however we didn't [against France]. Now we've got one other sport and the strategy is similar. We wish to win the sport.”
The Lionesses haven't been eradicated within the group phases of any event since 2013 and Wiegman has reached 4 consecutive main event finals as a head coach, the primary two of these coming with the Netherlands. Wiegman was additionally requested concerning the media response to her group's opening defeat however mentioned: “I don't learn the tabloids or the media. My solely focus is on the group and what I've to do. Tomorrow we'll begin the sport with the very best gameplan and that is my solely focus.”
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The defeat in opposition to France on Saturday was the primary time in a decade that England had did not win a group-stage fixture at a ladies's main event, since a gap defeat by the identical opponent within the 2015 World Cup in Canada, after they progressed to the semi-finals nonetheless.
The Arsenal and England striker Alessia Russo mentioned England are decided to place their defeat behind them instantly. “When you've got a disappointing end in soccer, all you wish to do is get again out on the pitch and play once more, so fortunately with tournaments it comes spherical a bit faster than regular,” she mentioned.
“4 days is lots for us to wish to be again out on that pitch. We've had just a few nice days of coaching and getting again to it as a group, so yeah, I believe everybody is prepared and searching ahead to [the game].”
