Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 23:50• Wessel Antes • Last update: 00:27

Andries Jonker is relieved on Tuesday evening that the the Dutch Lionesses, thanks to a 1-0 win over Iceland, have immediately qualified as group winners for the World Cup women’s football in Australia and New Zealand. It was not easy in Utrecht’s Galgenwaard, but in the final second a cross from Esmee Brugts still flew into the Icelandic net.

Jonker saw that the Dutch team was the better team against Iceland throughout the game. That is what the brand new national coach confirmed after the game in front of the cameras of the NOS. “I don’t think you can create more and better chances than tonight. You have to make one at some point, otherwise it will of course be difficult. This was the big challenge for me. This team really wanted to go to the World Cup. There is so much potential in this team. Those girls convinced me and themselves with this match. We can still do it, that’s clear now.”

Yet Jonker had to wait a long time for the first goal of his Lionesses. It was only in the 93rd minute that a pass from substitute Brugts accidentally flew in. “You can have all the statistics in your favor, but in the end it’s all about that scoreboard. We managed to win with this late goal. We now know where we stand, which is very nice.” If the liberating goal had not been scored, the the Dutch squad went as number two in the group to the play-offs, which will be played on October 6 and 11. Now opponent Iceland has been sentenced to do so.

Miedema was also relieved afterwards for the cameras of the NOS. The Arsenal striker thinks the Lionesses could have finished the game much earlier. “Normally you win a game like this 6-0 when you get such opportunities. We hit the bar or post four or five times, that’s bizarre. We haven’t been working on those play-offs at all. We let it come to the last minutes, but we knew we had enough quality.” The World Cup women’s football will take place between July 20, 2023 and August 20, 2023. After the victory over Iceland, the the Dutch Lionesses know that they will definitely be there.