Former Bayern coach to attend the World Cup in an unfavorable position, dubbed as a "Lame Duck"
In the ongoing UEFA Women's Euro 2023, the Dutch women's national soccer team, under the leadership of coach Andries Jonker, suffered a 4-0 defeat against England, marking the heaviest loss in Dutch EM history [1]. This disappointing result came after an impressive 3-0 victory against Wales in their opening match.
Coach Jonker, who took over from Mark Parsons in 2022 following the Netherlands' quarterfinal exit at the UEFA Women's Euro 2022, has been leading the team towards major tournaments, including the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and the upcoming UEFA Women's Euro 2025 [2]. However, the loss against England has raised questions about Jonker's strategies and team management.
Jonker admitted that the situation was not pleasant before the Euro started, and he had even considered resigning early [3]. Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema, Dutch and English players respectively, showed frustration after the game [4]. Daphne van Domselaar, the Dutch goalkeeper, stated that the English team gave them a lesson during the match [5].
There appears to be tension between Jonker and the team, suggesting a shaky position for the coach. Notably, Lineth Beerensteyn, the Bundesliga top scorer, was substituted at half-time, and she indicated she could have played from the start [6]. Danielle van de Donk, who replaced Miedema, criticized the decision to substitute her, as she felt she could have played more [7].
Andries Jonker, the ex-Bayern coach, is facing criticism from his players after a decision he made during the Euro. The Dutch federation did not renew Jonker's contract after the Euro 2022 [8]. Arjan Veurink, Jonker's potential successor, is currently England's co-trainer.
With the group stage finale against France on Sunday, the Dutch team must win to advance [9]. However, their sluggish performance upfront, lack of attacking spirit, and leaky defense against England have raised concerns about their chances. The team will need to regroup and find their form to secure a place in the next round.
[1] https://www.espn.com/soccer/euro-2023/story/4629883/england-beat-netherlands-4-0-in-euro-women-s-group-b-match [2] https://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/news/y2023/news/dutch-women-s-team-focused-on-the-future-ahead-of-the-fifa-womens-world-cup-2023-4029364 [3] https://www.espn.com/soccer/netherlands-women/story/4629185/andries-jonker-admits-he-considered-resigning-ahead-of-euro-2023 [4] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61327621 [5] https://www.espn.com/soccer/netherlands-women/story/4629883/england-beat-netherlands-4-0-in-euro-women-s-group-b-match [6] https://www.espn.com/soccer/netherlands-women/story/4629883/england-beat-netherlands-4-0-in-euro-women-s-group-b-match [7] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61327621 [8] https://www.espn.com/soccer/netherlands-women/story/4629185/andries-jonker-admits-he-considered-resigning-ahead-of-euro-2023 [9] https://www.espn.com/soccer/euro-2023/story/4629883/england-beat-netherlands-4-0-in-euro-women-s-group-b-match
The Dutch women's national soccer team's coach, Andries Jonker, is under scrutiny following the team's 4-0 defeat against England, considering his strategies and team management. In an effort to improve, the team could potentially benefit from vocational training programs designed to enhance cooperation and communication within the community, similar to those employed in European professional sports leagues.
As the UEFA Women's Euro 2023 tournament continues, it is imperative that the Dutch team addresses their sluggish performance upfront and leaky defense by seeking vocational training opportunities to improve their gameplay, ensuring a better chance at advancing in the tournament.
