France ends Dutch defense of women’s Euro

We’ve reached a new level for us tonight but that’s not the end

France coach Corinne Diacre said Les Bleues are not satisfied with just breaking new ground by reaching the semifinals for the first time at a women’s Euro after beating defending champion the Netherlands 1-0 after extra-time on July 23, Qazet.az reports.

Eve Perisset’s penalty on 102 minutes finally broke the Dutch resistance in Rotherham to set up a semi-final clash with Germany on July 27.

But the scoreline did not do justice to the gulf in class between the sides as France was frustrated for 90 minutes by the brilliance of young goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar.

“We’ve reached a new level for us tonight but that’s not the end,” said Diacre, who had been fiercely criticized for her part in France’s quarterfinal exit on home soil at the World Cup three years ago. “We are looking to reach the final.”

Defeat rounded off a difficult tournament for the Dutch, who had been weakened by injuries to key players and coronavirus cases.

Vivianne Miedema was fit to return after she missed the group stage wins over Portugal and Switzerland due to COVID.