Jansen’s late strike gives Netherlands win against England in Nations League

A full-throated appreciation of an opposition manager before kick-off is rare, it is even rarer before a competitive match, the result of which, a devastatingly late 2-1 defeat of England by the Netherlands, could prove incredibly important to Olympic qualification.

The loud roar after Sarina Wiegman’s name was read out and her image displayed on the two big screens above the goals in the sold-out Stadion Galgenwaard reflected the huge esteem and warm affection that the Dutch have towards their former manager and international midfielder.

The England manager, alongside her assistant Arjan Veurink – who here lost their third game in 41 matches in charge of England – transformed women’s football in the Netherlands, earning the team’s first major trophy on home soil in 2017 against the odds to ignite a revolution in the game. It is not extreme to say the more than 23,000 fans packed into the Utrecht stadium, a sea of orange, waving flags throughout and vocal, would not have been here without Wiegman.

There is an understanding of why Wiegman left after a Euro 2017 trophy and 2019 World Cup final berth, because what was on offer in England was a challenge worthy of the world’s best, the FA having embarked on their journey earlier than the Dutch. “In England, everything is three times as big,” Wiegman had said before her return to her home country as England manager for the first time. “So many people are involved in the women’s game. We are a few steps ahead.”

So there were hugs for Wiegman before kick-off as well as after it, the Netherlands captain, Sherida Spitse, warmly embracing her former manager, after saying she “means a lot” to the people of the Netherlands before the game. Wiegman is world class and recently collected her second Uefa coach of the year award, to add to her three Fifa The Best Women’s Coach awards.

That said,

Wiegman is perhaps going through her roughest spell in charge of England. Rough is maybe too strong a word, it is a ripple on a calm ocean rather than sustained choppy waters. It could develop into something bigger, it might not.

There are caveats, Wiegman is without long-term absentees Leah Williamson, Fran Kirby, Beth Mead and more recently Keira Walsh and Bethany England. There has also been a tight turnaround between the World Cup final and the start of a first Nations League campaign. And, there was controversy for the opener here, with no VAR and Daniëlle van de Donk well offside in the buildup.

For now, though, it increasingly looks like teams have started to figure this current England team out and the Netherlands were no exception. The Dutch dominated the first half against the European champions, desperately needing a first win to keep hopes of Olympic qualification alive.

Only two European teams will qualify in addition to the hosts, France, for the Paris Olympics next summer and only one can win the group to earn a place in the finals of this tournament and bid for one of those top two spots.

Wiegman made two changes to the side that laboured, somewhat, to a 2-1 win over Scotland with Ella Toone replacing Lauren James and the rested Alessia Russo returning in place of Chloe Kelly. For the Dutch, there was one change to the side that suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to Belgium, with the Aston Villa goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar back in the starting XI.

The deserved Dutch opener came in the 34th minute and England brought it on themselves. With the home side pressing high the visiting captain, Millie Bright, threaded the ball to Georgia Stanway but the former Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen was alert and leapt in from behind to divert the ball to Van de Donk who touched it back for Lieke Martens, who curled a cute finish into the top corner. Van de Donk had been offside, but with no VAR there was no calling it back.

The goal opened the game up and the Dutch continued to dominate but England had chances. Rachel Daly saw an effort come back off the post and Lucy Bronze forced a save from Van Domselaar. Lineth Beerensteyn hit the woodwork in either half as the Netherlands looked to extend their lead, first shrugging off Jess Carter and smacking the ball off the underside of the bar and later hitting the outside of a post.

The substitute Kelly, on for Daly at the break, would be the architect of a fine chance moments later, delivering for Lauren Hemp but somehow Van Domselaar made the save. The gaps were opening up and in the 64th minute England levelled. Kelly fed Stanway and the midfielder sent the ball goalwards. It took a heavy deflection into the path of Russo who sent it looping into the top corner.

Both teams grafted for the winner but it was the late substitutions by the Dutch that would prove the difference, Alex Greenwood’s underhit pass latched on to by Martens, who set up Renate Jansen to smash in just five minutes after coming on. It is not panic stations yet, but England need things to click fast.