A very subjective look into AWFC

If I could watch any international fixture in women’s football The Netherlands vs England would be it. This is literally my favorite matchup and the only reason I didn’t fly to Utrecht to watch this is because I didn’t know if Viv and Beth were playing and I didn’t want to risk it. Yes, I love every other player and I dream of watching DVD and Dom play in person but I couldn’t swing it. Also, as fate would have it, I have a recording today with a band I can’t tell you about. not because it’s incredibly massive but because they have a cult following and they haven’t released an album in over a decade and this is a big deal for me and my career so I would have had to cancel my trip to NL had I booked it.

A trip I did book was to fly to London to watch Arsenal Women play vs Villa at The Emirates so I hope to run into some of you there!

Anyway, this match is huge for you, huge for me, huge for NL and huge for England too. Not only is it going to be mostly household names vs household names which is lovely in and of itself, but it’s also going to have big repercussions in terms of the group. This last bit of analysis is the most basic and obvious thing but I just had to mention it.

I was absolutely convinced that NL were going to beat Belgium and beat them comfortably. I was clearly wrong. I don’t understand a lot of the things that Jonker does, especially staying with Spitse on the side while Damaris is there and also playing Pelova at right back but the biggest head scratcher for me is not having the best #10 the country has ever produced not playing as a free #10. But he’s the coach and I literally just hit stuff for a living. I know nothing.

I’m interested to see 2 dutch minds going against each other and seeing how they approach the game. Will Sarina to something different? I would bet NOT. What will the formation be? The same as last game. I couldn’t watch the lionesses play against Scotland and the only lineup reference I have is from an app and I don’t think Chloe Kelly played as a left sided wing back as the app suggests but I have no idea. My guess is that Daly played there and Chloe played alongside Hemp up top. Either way, that doesn’t matter really, since I’m assuming Sarina will do nothing new and use the exact same team unless there’s an injury.

My biased theory is that if DVD plays as a number 10 we can beat any team but since she’s doing a lot of work in the middle of the pitch with Jackie Groenen we are lacking a lot of her creativity and defense unlocking passes which are specially missing when Viv isn’t playing. So by that “logic” I don’t really know what to expect and I have never or will ever not think we have a chance. We as in NL because yes I say “we.”

NL need 3 points, mathematically and morally. It’s one thing to lose to Spain and another one to lose to Belgium, a regional rival etc. Not good for them and I truly believe they’ll be ready to face the other lionesses.

All in all I wouldn’t be surprised if England win but I don’t think it’ll happen which means it will.

d ❤

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