Rotherham. Tournament nights are narrow-eyed when the stars are lit especially.
This was one of those evenings.
Only in extra time did the two French sisters manage to silence the cheers in the Dutch stands because a 22-year-old who was listening to his inner song stood in the net in front of them for a long time.
Daphne van Donselaar filled Sari van Veenendaal shoes and gloves to the brim. When the seasoned goalkeeper, the first choice given, was forced to leave the field and the EC after a shoulder injury against Sweden, Daphne van Donsselaar had to enter.
The young Dutch goalkeeper, who only played one match before the tournament, behaved against France as if the international stage was her yard and not the European Championship quarter-finals.
She was able to do this thanks to the sacrificial defensive support.
In front of the actor, Stephanie van der Gragget, and sometimes behind an orange wall. The 29-year-old central defender stood in the right position, stopped shots on the goal line, rushed forward, won high duels and took his legs ahead as the two fast French sisters stormed the penalty area.
And they did it in the first half.
Daphne van Dondeselaer kept the Netherlands in the match
If you are a young and ambitious footballer and want to develop tips, there are plenty of technical offensive French players to be inspired by. This is despite the fact that the biggest star, Marie Antoinette Catuto, was forced to leave the tournament with a severe knee injury.
On the right, the explosive technical striker from Paris Saint-Germain Kadidato Diani who appears to be playing with glue on the receiving foot. On the left edge, speed monster Delphine Cascarino with a clip in both step and shot, and in front, promising Lyon striker Melvin Mallard.
France united on their left flank, playing with a strike, at the corners of one attack to find Diani deep on the right in the next wave. We’ve seen close-range finishes, cuts, long shots, and moves with speed changes that have stomach tickles.
But despite the French dominance in the first half, with four shots on goal, one off the post and two, the score was 0-0 at the end of the first half. Perhaps you can understand who it was because of him.
‘France’s offensive slowed down’
In the second half, the match was even. Holland climbed higher.
Vivianne Miedema is back after being isolated from COVID-19. Her cheeks paled a little, but were even more rosy when she was able to come straight up towards the French back line.
With substitute Jill Roard in midfield and injured Lake Martins substitute Victoria Belova effectively holding the ball, the Netherlands created some pressure.
France’s attack slowed down and when it got really dangerous in the second half it was in the set pieces. But it did not help.
In injury time, Daphne van Donzelaar saved a shot in the first corner and when Wendy Renard’s header hit the goal, the goalkeeper stretched all his soul and tossed the ball over the touchline. It was about to be her night.
The captain of the French team threw up his arms, looked up at the sky and said something to someone who seemed to be listening there.
“The new star is finally extinguished”
In the first half of extra time, France awarded a penalty kick when Diani ended up scissoring Dominic Janssen’s center back leg. Wendy Renard, who missed a penalty and rebounded in the group stage, left the ball to right-back Yves Berest.
And then, from a distance of 11 meters, France got a hole in the orange balloon. Now Germany awaits in the semi-finals and it looks like a raise will be required for the French to win the meeting of the great powers.
In the quarter, a win was within reach. New co-star Daphne Van Doncellaar has finally been extinguished — but only for this evening. When the match ended, her teammates welcomed her and the fans loved her.
You have found the way you want to go.
