Vivianne Miedema nets landmark goal as Wales lose Euro opener to Netherlands
Wales, the lowest ranked team in the competition, had made an encouraging start to the Euro 2025 Group D opener at the Allmend Stadium, but were undone by two clinical Dutch goals either side of the break.
After Jill Roord's shot had hit the woodwork, Wales' solid defensive line was eventually breached when Miedema clipped home a fine dipping effort in stoppage time at the end of the first half to bring up her century in style.
Victoria Pelova then struck from close range just three minutes into the second half before Esmee Brugts added a third to put the result beyond Rhian Wilkinson's side, who next play France in St Gallen on Wednesday.
Despite being pushed deep for long spells, Wales – with Esther Morgan handed a surprise start in a back three – had held their own as the Netherlands struggled to break them down in the final third ahead of the first drinks break.
Advertisement
Wales, cheered on by around 3,800 supporters, were again well organised when play continued as the Dutch, who were European champions in 2017, looked to find a cutting edge to all of their possession.
The Netherlands, though, were soon within inches of taking the lead in the 35th minute.
Rhiannon Roberts headed out a long pass which had been launched towards the Wales penalty area. The ball dropped out to Roord, who took a touch before sending a 20-yard drive flying past Wales keeper Olivia Clark but her strike came back off the post.
Wales created a decent opening late in the first half when Jess Fishlock laid the the ball off to Lily Woodham, only for her shot to fly over.
The Netherlands then broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time through a brilliant finish from Miedema.
There looked little on for the Manchester City forward when she collected the ball on the left just outside the Wales penalty area, before then switching back inside to clip a fine effort up over Clark and into the far corner.
Wales fell further behind three minutes after the restart when Danielle van de Donk latched on to a long ball and had the time to pick out Pelova, who fired home from inside the six-yard box.
Former Manchester City midfielder Roord then saw another shot crash back off the bar before the Netherlands did get a third goal in the 57th minute.
Jackie Groenen's long-range strike rattled the crossbar again and after Wales failed to clear the danger, Brugts volleyed in a deep cross at the back post.
Wales head coach Wilkinson looked to minimise further damage by making some substitutions going into the last 25 minutes, sending on Ffion Morgan, Kayleigh Barton and Rachel Rowe to replace Fishlock, Hannah Cain and Josie Green.
Clark was out quickly to make a brave stop at the feet of Lineth Beerensteyn as she raced clear on goal before the Netherlands substitute then saw her late angled strike ruled out for offside.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
7 hours ago
- RTÉ News
France defeat defending champions England at Euro 2025
Defending champions England suffered a 2-1 loss to France in their Euro 2025 opener in Zurich. Lauren James returned to Sarina Wiegman's starting XI and England thought they had struck first against the 2022 semi-finalists but had an early Alessia Russo effort chalked off after a VAR check. Instead Marie-Antoinette Katoto fired in a 36th-minute opener before Chelsea's Sandy Baltimore doubled France's lead three minutes later. Late substitutions sparked England into life in the closing stages and Keira Walsh gave them hope, halving the deficit in the 87th minute, but they could not salvage a point. James got herself involved inside the first minute, latching on to the ball inside France's penalty area before firing a left-footed effort aimed at the top corner off-target. Three minutes later, the Chelsea forward was skipping around the edge of the area, sending in a cross that just evaded several England heads. Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton got her first taste of major tournament action when she came out to collect Selma Bacha's free-kick, earning an appreciative round of applause from the England delegation stationed behind her. Russo thought she had scored after pouncing on the rebound from Lauren Hemp's saved effort, but a VAR check determined Beth Mead had been marginally offside in the build-up to Hemp's initial attempt and the goal was ruled out. Momentum shifted in France's favour, their efforts inching ever closer as Hampton was forced into a good save, sticking out a leg to deny Elisa De Almeida. And it was the Paris St Germain defender whose initial midfield interception was the catalyst for the opener, finding Delphine Cascarino with a well-weighted pass. England lose possession and France capitalise via a goal from Marie-Antoinette Katoto 📺 Watch live - — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 5, 2025 San Diego Wave forward Cascarino then sent the ball across the face of goal, where Katoto obligingly tapped in. Baltimore doubled their advantage three minutes later, Leah Williamson and her Chelsea team-mate Lucy Bronze unable to contain the in-form Blues star before she rifled into the top right corner. VAR ruled – much to Wiegman's visible chagrin – that Russo had not been fouled in the build-up. The second half got off to a lively start for France, with Hampton denying Grace Geyoro but fumbling her save and having to scramble back just in time to prevent more damage. James' evening ended after 60 minutes as part of a triple-change for Wiegman. England looked to be running out of time and chances by the 77th minute when Grace Clinton made her major tournament debut, followed by Michelle Agyemang's minutes later. But England were suddenly sparked to life, substitute Ella Toone nearly halving the deficit with a deflected effort. Walsh finally clawed one back after France could not fully clear an England corner, the Chelsea midfielder taking advantage, guiding a shot past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin from the edge of the area to give the Lionesses a fighting chance. But, while they finally looked a threat, five minutes of added time were not enough to salvage a draw.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
France stun holders England in heavyweight Women's Euros clash
Euro 2025 Group D: France 2 England 1 The folded bodies of the players in white shirts at the close told the story. England were lacklustre and they are down, but they are not out. The Lionesses kicked off their European title defence with a 2-1 defeat by an impressive France team, delivering Sarina Wiegman's first major tournament defeat outside of a final. After a promising and pressing start fell away, Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore delivered for a resurgent France, Keira Walsh's late strike from a corner reducing the reigning European champions' blushes. A late charge was not enough and England have a lot of work to do to escape the tournament's group of death. There had been a cautious optimism around England fans in the buildup, a feeling that the holders would be able to assert their authority on the competition in the showpiece of the opening set of fixtures. In the French press, pessimism was the order of the day, the unceremonious dropping of the long-term captain, Wendie Renard, and the record goalscorer, Eugénie Le Sommer, the key talking point. It felt like an even more outrageous decision with Griedge Mbock struggling to shake off a calf issue that Laurent Bonadei all but confirmed ruled her out of their first match. The manager had provoked some raised eyebrows when he quoted Einstein in reply to questions about Renard's omission for the first time since 2005, saying the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again. He had a point: the French had played 26 games at the Women's Euros before this fixture but have never made the final. They have been perennial underachievers, awash with individual talent but crippled by off the field issues, dressing room controversy and poor coaching. The ferocity with which England burst out the blocks at a balmy Stadion Letzigrund in front of 22,542 fans will have not eased French nerves and they were lucky to not be behind inside the opening minute. While Renard's absence dominated French headlines, the potential return of Lauren James – and the price of everything in Switzerland – was the talk of England's media and fans. Her name in the starting XI was an extremely welcome sight, the forward, a generational talent, having played just 30 minutes of football in three months, when she came on against Jamaica in England's sendoff game last Sunday. It was James who almost caught France out. England's press won the ball and Alessia Russo found space down the right to cut back for James, who fired wildly over inside 39 seconds. She was the outlet in a blistering opening 20 minutes for the defending champions, soon making a powerful run followed by a beautiful and testing cross into the middle with which neither Russo or Beth Mead could quite connect. England head coach Sarina Wiegman Photo : Nick Potts/PA Wire. Wiegman's side thought they had the lead in the 16th minute and it would have been deserved, Russo firing a rebound past Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, who had saved from Lauren Hemp. A video assistant referee check ruled it out for an offside in the buildup, but replays and stills were confusing, suggesting the most hairline of calls. There was a cagier period after the disallowed goal, the wind seemingly out of England's sails a little, and the French began to settle, finding joy out wide, particularly on the right against a somewhat bullied Jess Carter. A fine instinctive save from the foot of Hannah Hampton, freshly handed the No 1 shirt full time after the retirement of Mary Earps, spared England, although VAR also intervened for an offside. The goal was coming, though. England's passing was, put kindly, sloppy and France were quick to capitalise. Stanway was the culprit for the opener, her short pass pounced on by De Almeida. The full-back released Delphine Cascarino, who was untroubled by Carter, and pinged a cross in towards Katoto, who turned the ball coolly in. It was a bruising move. Six minutes later Les Bleues had a second and more calamitous defending proved costly. Lucy Bronze raced in to assist Leah Williamson as she tracked Baltimore but the full-back made a hash of her tackle and ended up on the floor poking the ball back to the Chelsea forward, who slammed across goal and in. England were rattled and France just looked hungrier. It took until the hour mark for Wiegman to make changes and it felt overdue: James, who was kept quiet after that blistering start, was hooked for Ella Toone, Mead made way for Chloe Kelly and Carter was spared facing forward Kadidiatou Diani, one of three France substitutions, when she was replaced by Charles. Concerningly, England just looked a little lost, unable to adapt to counteract the fluidity of the cohesive French. France's Marie-Antoinette Katoto, right, scores the 1:0 goal against England (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP) Toone fired wide late on, the ball taking a deflection on the way, and Wiegman played her hail Mary, sending on the 19-year-old Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang as they waited to take the corner. The set piece was cleared as far as Walsh, who fired in from the edge of the box. Agyemang caused problems for the French defence, but she just didn't have enough time. All is not lost. As Bronze pointed out in the buildup, England lost to France in their opening game of the 2015 World Cup before going on to record their best ever tournament run at the time, when they suffered semi-final heartbreak against Japan. The difference now is the strength of the group. They face the Netherlands next, who earned a 3-0 win over Wales in the early kick-off, before the home nations battle it out. FRANCE: Peyraud-Magnin, de Almeida (N'Dongala 80), Lakrar, Sombath, Bacha, Karchaoui (Toletti 80), Jean-Francois, Geyoro, Baltimore (Malard 62), Katoto (Mateo 62), Cascarino (Diani 62). ENGLAND: Hampton, Bronze, Williamson, Greenwood (Agyemang 86), Carter (Charles 60), James (Toone 60), Walsh, Stanway (Clinton 77), Mead (Kelly 61), Russo, Hemp. Ref: Tess Olofsson (Sweden). Guardian
The 42
8 hours ago
- The 42
Doue helps deliver drama as nine-man PSG beat Bayern to reach semi-final
PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN reached the Club World Cup semi-finals as Desire Doue and Ousmane Dembele goals earned the nine-man European champions a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in a gripping battle. The French treble winners had Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernandez sent off in the final stages but managed to oust the German giants in Atlanta. Bundesliga champions Bayern, who lost Jamal Musiala just before half-time with a horror ankle injury, shared an intense and even battle with the Parisians. Bayern had won their last four matches straight against PSG, including a 1-0 Champions League victory last November, before Luis Enrique's side hit their peak. Players and nearly 67,000 spectators observed a minute of silence in honour of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who tragically died in a car crash on Thursday. It was an emotional moment, especially for a PSG side with five Portuguese players in the squad, including starters Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes. Luis Enrique began with leading Ballon d'Or candidate Dembele on the bench, as he continues his comeback from a quadriceps injury, but Bayern playmaker Musiala was fit to start after a calf issue. It was FIFA's expanded tournament's biggest heavyweight clash thus far and Bayern coach Vincent Kompany said on the eve of the game he would pay to watch a match he described as a 'perfect storm', because of the teams' similar high-pressing, attacking styles. The air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Stadium also produced the perfect conditions for a pulsating game, lit up by supremely talented dribblers on both sides, as well as two elite goalkeepers in Gianluigi Donnarumma and Manuel Neuer. Both sides exchanged early blows as Desire Doue fired narrowly wide and Donnarumma saved Michael Olise's low effort. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia hit the side netting after a razor-sharp PSG counter before Donnarumma produced a fine save at full stretch to tip away another Olise effort. Georgia international Kvaratskhelia forced Neuer into an excellent stop from close range after the effervescent Bradley Barcola floated a ball out to him on the left and the winger surged inside at pace. Donnarumma was called into action as Aleksandar Pavlovic's low cross for Musiala eluded the German and nearly found the bottom corner, but for a swift reaction from the Italian. Advertisement The goalkeeper could do nothing about Dayot Upamecano's header from Olise's free-kick in first-half stoppage time but the French defender had strayed offside and it was disallowed. England captain Harry Kane also came close for Bayern with a header that flew narrowly off target after fine work by Kingsley Coman. - Musiala horror injury - Unfortunately Musiala suffered a gruesome ankle injury before half-time as he fell following a collision with Donnarumma, with the goalkeeper appearing distraught in the aftermath. Bayern's 39-year-old stopper Neuer produced a sensational save to deny Barcola early in the second half, as the French winger ran through on goal and tried to bend the ball into the far corner. With 20 minutes remaining, Luis Enrique sent on Dembele to try and make the difference and avoid extra-time, which neither side needed at the end of a gruelling season. Dembele came inches from doing just that when Neuer gave the ball away outside his area and the Frenchman lunged to try and roll into the empty net, but it trickled just wide of the post. Eventually 20-year-old Doue found the breakthrough as Kane gave the ball away and PSG attacked in numbers. Doue, who burst into the limelight in PSG's run to Champions League glory, worked some space on the edge of the box and flashed a low strike home at the near post. Bayern were given hope as they hunted for an equaliser when PSG defender Pacho was sent off for a high tackle on Leon Goretzka after 83 minutes. Kane headed home from an offside position before PSG substitute Hernandez was dismissed for an elbow. Dembele hit the crossbar on the break as Luis Enrique's side clung on before sealing their victory through the French forward, who tucked home after Achraf Hakimi's run through and paid tribute to Jota by copying his video-gaming celebration. PSG will face Real Madrid or Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals on Wednesday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. – © AFP 2025
