Soccer-Relationships under strain as Dutch take on England
ZURICH (Reuters) -Netherlands striker Vivianne Miedema goes up against her English partner Beth Mead on Wednesday when the two countries meet in a key clash at the Women's European Championship in Zurich, but it is not a subject they are talking about.
Miedema, who scored her 100th goal for the Dutch when they comfortably beat Wales 3-0 in their opening Group D match in Lucerne on Saturday, played with forward Mead at Arsenal for seven years but moved to Manchester City last year.
They have been dating since 2022, according to their social media posts, and after being clubmates, were on opposite sides this season following Miedema's move to Manchester.
'We have a rule that we can talk about anything but not about the match," Miedema told a pre-game press conference.
"I don't know if she's going to start the game, I don't know if she'll come on later. The only thing I know is that we both feel good. Nothing more. Tomorrow we won't be friends on the pitch for a while.
"I'm there as a Dutch person and I'll do everything to win that match. If that's not good for Beth, then I'm happy. It's part of the game. I've often been on the other side, but I'm happy if we can progress tomorrow.
'I don't have a good record against her, but hopefully we can change that,' she added, 'but we haven't played much against each other at both club and national team level.'
A win for the Netherlands would likely condemn the defending champions to early elimination, after England lost their opener to France at the weekend.
'If we beat England and Beth has to go home, then she won't speak to me for a while,' Miedema said laughing. 'But that's part of football too.'
Miedema has extensive knowledge of the English game after her time in the Women's Super League. She spontaneously answered a Dutch question in English at the press conference, betraying her longevity in Britain.
"We know all those girls individually very well," she added of the England side. "But I think it's also the other way around, that the staff of England know us well too."
England have Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman in charge, and she was formerly Netherlands coach.
"We are friends, and you want the best for your friends,' her Dutch counterpart Andries Jonker said on Tuesday.
"But we also have an understanding that if we play against each other, we also want to beat each other. I'm sorry for Sarina, but it's football," he added.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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