The the Dutch women started the World Cup qualifier on Friday evening with a draw. The team of national coach Mark Parsons did not go further than 1-1 against the Czech Republic in Groningen. For Parsons it was his first game on the bench with the the Dutch Lionesses. He took over the baton this summer from Sarina Wiegman who left for England. The Dutch goal was credited to Vivianne Miedema, who prevented a defeat in the final phase.
Parsons surprised somewhat with his line-up, as he kept record international Sherida Spitse on the bench against the Czechs. Sisca Folkertsma and Shanice van de Sanden, on the other hand, could count on a basic place. Spitse had to miss the Olympics due to a knee injury, but has now fully recovered and has also played with her club Ajax again. Parsons, however, preferred Jill Roord, Daniëlle van de Donk and Jackie Groenen in midfield.
After an extremely disappointing first half in which hardly anything happened, the Czechs took the lead early in the second half. Andrea Stasková got the ball between a large number of the Dutch players and calmly rounded off: 0-1. The Netherlands soon had the opportunity to give something back through Lieke Martens, but hit the bar after just under an hour of play. The Netherlands was certainly not inferior to the Czech Republic and tried to put more pressure on the visitors’ goal in the final phase, including with substitute Lineth Beerensteyn.
The offensive intentions were rewarded ten minutes before the end via Miedema. The striker, who played her hundredth game in the the Dutch shirt, was put in front of the goal with a through pass and ensured the equalizer: 1-1. The late goal prevented a disgrace, as the Czech Republic (number 27 in the FIFA world ranking) as an independent country has never managed to qualify for a World Cup or European Championship. The Netherlands will play the next World Cup qualifier next Tuesday, when the team visits Iceland.
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