Netherlands v England: Women’s Nations League – live

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Netherlands: Van Domselaar, Pelova, Dijkstra, Janssen, Brugts, Groenen, Spitse, Van de Donk, Beerensteyn, Roord, Martens.
Subs: Lorsheyd, De Jong, Wilms, Auee, Olislagers, Baijings, Jansen, Kalma, Kaptein, Egurrola.

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England: Earps, Bronze, Carter, Bright, Greenwood, Daly, Stanway, Zelem, Toone, Russo, Hemp.
Subs: Hampson, Roebuck, Kelly, James, Morgan, Charles, Coombs, Parker, Park, Le Tissier, Robinson, Staniforth.

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Referee: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia).

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If you must suffer the indignity of a slightly dodgy patch of form, let it be like this: an underwhelming performance in a World Cup final, followed by a laboured win over the old enemy. And so the Lionesses have a World Cup silver medal to go alongside their Euro 2022 triumph, while they sit joint top of Group A in the Nations League after taking all three points from Scotland. We should all endure such sticky spells.

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Last Friday’s win has put the Lionesses in a fine frame of mind ahead of tonight’s Sarina Wiegman Klassiek in Utrecht. The England manager is back on her home soil, where she’s still revered for taking the Leeuwinnen to the Euro 2017 title, and says she expects the feeling of leading out her adopted country against her old pals to be “special and strange”.

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It’ll be special all right. The hosts were shocked 2-1 in Belgium on the opening night, and will be looking to bounce back with a vengeance this evening. England, who welcome back the rested Alessia Russo, will also hope to raise their level back to something more recognisable. With both teams fancying their chances of winning the group, this is sure to be a showdown and a half. Kick off at the Stadion Galgenwaard is at 7pm BST. It’s on!

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Key events

14 min: The Dutch are still enjoying the majority of the possession, but England are edging their way into the game now, and moving the action closer to the centre of the pitch, as opposed to their final third. Baby steps in these early stages.

12 min: Dijstra launches long down the inside-right channel. Beerensteyn strains to get on the end of the pass, but there’s a bit too much on it and Earps comes to the edge of her box to claim.

10 min: Bronze crosses deep from the right. Van Domselaar plucks a dangerous-looking ball out of the sky at the far post, and the crowd respond with a hearty roar of approval. Given what happened under aerial attack during injury time in Belgium, it’s understandable that everyone’s happy to see their number-one keeper back on point. Poor Jacintha Weimar.

9 min: A simple long rake down the middle nearly carves the Netherlands open in one fell swoop. Russo can’t quite get the ball under control on the edge of the Dutch box and she’s swarmed and picked off.

7 min: England have hardly had a touch. When they do get hold of the ball, two-pass moves are at a premium. But then a loose pass from Beerensteyn allows Hemp to take a run down the right. She nearly wins a corner off Brugts … but not quite, the ball stubbornly refusing to roll out of play, and the move fizzles out. The Dutch take over again.

5 min: Pelova zips into space down the right, chasing Dijkstra’s precision slide down the channel, but can’t find anyone with her cross. She comes again but can’t get past Greenwood, and turns tail. This is a really impressive start by the Dutch, and England can’t get out.

3 min: Brugts probes down the left and cuts into the box. She drops a shoulder and takes a whack, but her effort is blocked and cleared. There was palpable excitement as she took up possession. Scoring twice at the World Cup tends to generate emotion like that.

2 min: Carter goes down, having taken a whack in the face during an aerial challenge. She’s up again quickly enough, accusing Martens of sharp practice. The referee tells her to get on with it.

Smiles all round as the little car trundles on to deliver the match ball … then a knee of inclusion and love … and then England get that ball rolling. The reigning European champions take on the team they deposed! Love that little car.

The teams are out! A cappella blasts of God Save the King and Wilhelmus. A warm reception for Serina Weigman, who has led both countries to a European title followed by a World Cup final. Then a huge cheer of anticipation as the teams peel off to take up their positions for kick-off. The Oranje are in … I’ll not insult your intelligence … while England sport second-choice blue. Off in a second or two!

England have a fine record against the Dutch. The countries have met on 14 previous occasions, and the Lionesses have won nine and drawn three of them. Their only losses came in a 2007 friendly and, more crucially, the semi-finals of Euro 2017 when Serina Weigman was in charge of her compatriots. Chances are you might not want to relive that one, blow for blow, but we’ll give you the option anyway.

Dutch manager Andries Jonker speaks to ITV. “It is very unusual [to be facing Serina Wiegman] … we know each other for about 30 years … we have gone through many things together … she has become an absolute top coach and now we play against each other … so it’s quite special for the both of us … [Serina Wiegman] was my captain in the national team and educated very well … a good player … she knew what was going on … and so you recognised potentially that this might be a really good coach! … our goalkeeper [Jacintha Weimar] did a very good job [against Belgium] and in the very last minute made a mistake, and I’m really sorry for her because she’s a good goalkeeper … it’s happy for the team to have Van Domselaar back because she is our number one.”

England boss Sarina Wiegman talks to ITV. “It is very nice to be back … it is very special being here with England … also in this stadium I played with the Netherlands while I was here … so yes, I know everyone! … of course lots of players used to play together too … it’s nice but when the game starts, it’s really on … before the game it feels a little bit strange … but we have the line-up now so we are ready to get started … Alessia Russo is fresh now and ready to play … from what we expect of the Netherlands and what we tactically want to bring, this is the best line-up.”

England make two changes to the starting XI after the slightly flattering 2-1 victory over Scotland. Alessia Russo, who had been rested for the Scots test, replaces Chloe Kelly up front, while Ella Toone replaces Lauren James in the middle of the park. Kelly and James both drop to the bench.

The Dutch make one change to their starting XI following the 2-1 defeat in Belgium. Aston Villa goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar replaces Feyenoord’s Jacintha Weimar, whose late error in Leuven last weekend cost the Oranje so dearly.

The teams

Netherlands: Van Domselaar, Pelova, Dijkstra, Janssen, Brugts, Groenen, Spitse, Van de Donk, Beerensteyn, Roord, Martens.
Subs: Lorsheyd, De Jong, Wilms, Auee, Olislagers, Baijings, Jansen, Kalma, Kaptein, Egurrola.

England: Earps, Bronze, Carter, Bright, Greenwood, Daly, Stanway, Zelem, Toone, Russo, Hemp.
Subs: Hampson, Roebuck, Kelly, James, Morgan, Charles, Coombs, Parker, Park, Le Tissier, Robinson, Staniforth.

Referee: Ivana Martinčić (Croatia).

Preamble

If you must suffer the indignity of a slightly dodgy patch of form, let it be like this: an underwhelming performance in a World Cup final, followed by a laboured win over the old enemy. And so the Lionesses have a World Cup silver medal to go alongside their Euro 2022 triumph, while they sit joint top of Group A in the Nations League after taking all three points from Scotland. We should all endure such sticky spells.

Last Friday’s win has put the Lionesses in a fine frame of mind ahead of tonight’s Sarina Wiegman Klassiek in Utrecht. The England manager is back on her home soil, where she’s still revered for taking the Leeuwinnen to the Euro 2017 title, and says she expects the feeling of leading out her adopted country against her old pals to be “special and strange”.

It’ll be special all right. The hosts were shocked 2-1 in Belgium on the opening night, and will be looking to bounce back with a vengeance this evening. England, who welcome back the rested Alessia Russo, will also hope to raise their level back to something more recognisable. With both teams fancying their chances of winning the group, this is sure to be a showdown and a half. Kick off at the Stadion Galgenwaard is at 7pm BST. It’s on!

The Guardian