Euro 2025: Netherlands team guide – a stellar squad with injury issues and a daunting task
As former European champions, having won this competition on home soil when managed by Sarina Wiegman in 2017, the Netherlands know what it takes to win. But this summer looks to be one of their toughest challenges yet on the big stage.
They have struggled of late, affected by injuries to key players, including top scorer Vivianne Miedema, and being drawn into the tournament's most difficult group alongside title holders England and Euro 2022 semi-finalists France makes for plenty of jeopardy.
Who is the manager?
Euro 2025 is a finale of sorts for Andries Jonker. The 62-year-old former Barcelona assistant manager's contract expires following this tournament and it was announced in January he would be leaving the role after three years, with Arjan Veurink — Wiegman's current assistant with England — succeeding him.
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Jonker's legacy is complicated. After the Euro 2022 debacle that ended in a quarter-finals exit under Mark Parsons, he became a salvation figure, reinvigorating a team and a nation that once threatened to dominate the global game. That Jonker did so is unsurprising. His CV includes being on Louis van Gaal's coaching staff at Barca and Bayern Munich, roles at FC Volendam, MVV Maastricht, Willem II and Wolfsburg, as well as being director of the academy at Arsenal for three years.
However, some uninspired performances and constant rotations over the past year have led some fans to question whether his magic touch might be deserting him.
How do they play?
Jonker has been known to use various formations, switching from a 5-3-2 to a more familiar 4-3-3 depending on the opposition. Dominance in possession is still the ideal and, in both tactical setups, the defenders are asked to push high up the pitch in order to pressure the opposition quickly, particularly in the centre, to force turnovers.
Who are their three most influential players?
The Netherlands are not short of candidates here, but a player growing in stature for Jonker's side is Wieke Kaptein. The 19-year-old Chelsea midfielder has had a breakthrough year with the serial Women's Super League champions and has consistently shown a work ethic, composure and intelligence beyond her years in the centre of the pitch.
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Equally important is Wolfsburg forward Lineth Beerensteyn. The 28-year-old was the Netherlands' top scorer during the qualification campaign for Euro 2025 and her 17 league goals in 20 appearances this season will inspire confidence. And of course, no list would be accurate without including Miedema. The Manchester City striker is one of the global game's most ferocious and intelligent goalscorers.
All of this is to say: fitness is the biggest influential player for the Dutch. In their final round of Nations League matches a month ago, they were without first-choice goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, as well as attacking totems Beerensteyn and Miedema.
What is their biggest strength?
The Netherlands' quality on the ball is inarguable and young talents such as Kaptein and Barcelona's Esmee Brugts are complementing more established players such as Danielle van de Donk, Beerensteyn and Miedema well. Even these young players already have major tournament experience — a huge strength given their tough group. Getting to the knockout phase will take guile as much as craft, something the Dutch boast in abundance.
What weakness might other teams be able to exploit?
The Netherlands head into the European Championship without an established starting XI. That is not inherently bad and tactical flexibility, particularly during a major tournament, is usually a boon. But with recurring injuries to key players such as Jill Roord, Miedema and Victoria Pelova — and regular rotations in defence — chemistry has been hard to hone. Often, players look unsure of team-mates' positions and can consequently concede possession in dangerous situations.
Any notable absentees?
They have not had good luck when it comes to fitness. Beerensteyn, Miedema and Van Domselaar were the most recent names on the injury list and the impact was clear as the Dutch were thumped 4-0 away to Germany in the Nations League at the end of May. Beerensteyn is said to be ready to return to competitive play ahead of the summer and Miedema left their training camp altogether before that international break finished due to fitness issues but returned to action and scored twice in a 2-1 friendly win over Finland on Thursday.
What is their strongest starting XI?
How have they performed over the past 12 months?
The Netherlands have quietly gone about their business since the start of 2024, losing five of their 18 matches. Yet performances have not always been convincing and results have begun to suffer. Draws with Finland and Italy were disappointing, but not as damaging as that heavy defeat in Germany, who finished top of their Nations League group. There was also a dull 1-1 draw with Scotland in their final Nations League game a few days later.
What are they expected to achieve at these Euros?
Ask a Netherlands supporter what the likelihood is of their team going far in Switzerland this summer and the answer is textbook: let's make it out of the group first.
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True enough, Group D is not for the weak of heart: France and England, plus a Wales side making their major tournament debut. Conclusion? At least one big hitter is going home early.
The Dutch boast an elite squad and have nous in stepping up on the big stage (you don't win a European Championship and then reach the final of a World Cup two years later by fluke). Yet, recent performances have been shaky and without an established starting XI, they remain a bit of a mystery.
Get through the group, however, and this lot could go far.
Did you know?
The Netherlands announced in April that England women's assistant head coach Veurink will replace Jonker after Euro 2025. Veurink served as an assistant under Wiegman when she was in charge of the Dutch women's side from 2017 to 2021, winning Euro 2017 and reaching the 2019 World Cup final.
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The 38-year-old then followed Wiegman to England in 2021 and helped them win the Euros on home soil the following year. He is considered a 'tactical genius' by some in the English squad.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Netherlands, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros
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