BRAMALL LANE — Coumba Sow had lots of time – far too much time. In the moments that Sow stood, slightly off balance but with the ball at her feet, aeons passed; trees were seeded, grew and waned; Manchester United’s pursuit of Frenkie de Jong was concluded (if only).
Sow could see what she had to do and she could see what it would mean in the same moment. And then she struck her shot in pretty much the only place that would fail to achieve it. Switzerland had literally missed their chance. Netherlands would go through.
None of this should cause any great surge of resentment amongst the Swiss players or the red-shirted members of a record crowd for a non-host Women’s European Championship group game. They were handed the impossible task in Group C and came closer than anyone thought to it. The regret will stem from their first group match and the early 2-0 lead they let slip away against Portugal. But even then, they would still have had to beat the Dutch. No European side has done that at a major tournament since 2013.
The final few minutes of their tournament will also sting, Mark Parsons’ Dutch team adding several layers of unmerited gloss to a scoreline that for much of the previous hour had seemed anything but a foregone conclusion. A 2-1 defeat, fuelled by a late goalkeeping mistake that can occur when fatigue clouds decision-making, was a shame. To lose 4-1 was an injustice.
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Judging the Netherlands’ progression through this group stage is an awkward task. They have been vaguely proficient at times, downright stodgy at others but have finished roughly where we expected them to finish, give or take a toss-up over the goal difference. Allowing a two-goal lead to slip against Portugal – even if they did eventually win the game – has effectively cost them a far easier quarter-final draw. It will be France next.
Sunday’s Euro 2022 results
Netherlands 4-1 Switzerland (Crnogorcevic OG 49′, Leuchter 84′, 90+5′, Pelova 89′ | Reuteler 53′)
Sweden 5-0 Portugal (Angeldal 21′, 45′, Costa OG 45+7′, Asllani pen 54′, Blackstenius 90′)
But then Parsons might point out that his team has overcome every hurdle. They dealt with the pre-tournament pressure of being holders. They came from behind against Sweden (who were considered slight favourites). They overcame that sloppy 10 minutes either side of half-time against Portugal. And when the pressure was on them not to lose, they won 4-1. Ultimately, that is the true measure of strength: whatever happens, we persevere.
Parsons has certainly had enough adversity to plead a little patience. Vivianne Miedema continues to display Covid-19 symptoms that may well rule her out of the quarter-final, at least at full fitness. Jackie Groenen missed a match with the same diagnosis, Aniek Nouwen the same game with an ankle problem. First-choice goalkeeper and captain, Sari van Veenendaal, is out of the tournament with a shoulder problem sustained after 22 minutes of their first fixture.
Rather than define the Netherlands’ tournament, perhaps that can now become its back story. France in the quarter-final will not be easy, but they too have injury issues. The Dutch have tournament knowhow, winning experience and an extra day of rest. Don’t write them off just yet.
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