Women’s Euros: France beat Netherlands to set up semifinal clash with Germany
Ève Périsset converted a penalty in extra time to send France into a long-awaited first UEFA Women’s EURO semi-final and end the Netherlands’ reign as holders despite a stubborn showing in Rotherham.
Having had Lieke Martens ruled out of the finals, there was a pre-match boost for the Netherlands with Vivianne Miedema back from illness, flanked by Lineth Beerensteyn and Victoria Pelova.
For France, meanwhile, Melvine Malard continued in attack after starting against Iceland following Marie-Antoinette Katoto’s tournament-ending injury in the previous match.
Les Bleues had scored inside ten minutes during all three of their group games in Rotherham, and although they didn’t manage that on this occasion, Kadidiatou Diani was an early menace down the right, testing Daphne van Domselaar more than once.
France were on top and Sandie Toletti blazed a shot only narrowly over, while Delphine Cascarino went even closer, her effort curling onto the post with Van Domselaar stationary.
As against Sweden, Miedema began dropping deep to try to spark her team, but this time the tactic was not yielding results.
Even so, the Netherlands somehow made it to half-time level, with Stefanie van der Gragt largely to thank after she blocked a Malard attempt on the line and got in the way of a Grace Geyoro effort soon after.
Jill Roord was sent on after the break to try and enliven the Dutch attack, while Daniëlle van de Donk was pushed forward. Miedema volleyed a Sherida Spitse corner over the crossbar and Corinne Diacre responded by withdrawing Malard, sending on left-sided Selma Bacha and moving Diani more central.
Bacha soon had a chance, tipped over by Van Domselaar, who then dived to stop Wendie Renard’s header from the resulting corner.
As the minutes ticked away, Geyoro headed wide from a cross by Cascarino, who just before the end of normal time was herself denied by Van Domselaar, the busy Dutch goalkeeper then saving another Renard header from a corner.
Time for the Oranje to regroup, though it was France who again threatened first in extra time, Bacha pouncing on a loose Miedema pass, advancing and shooting over. And the decisive moment came shortly after when Dominique Janssen fouled Diani in the box, a VAR check leading to a penalty which Périsset squeezed past Van Domselaar’s dive.
Sakina Karchaoui blocked a Pelova strike as the Netherlands pushed for an equaliser, but their opponents still looked dangerous too, with Ouleymata Sarr firing just past the post. In the end, 1-0 was enough for Les Bleues to end their run of three straight EURO quarter-final exits and set up a last-four showdown with Germany on Wednesday.
