Netherlands turn to their Spanish spies for World Cup clash
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Netherlands midfielder Damaris Egurrola takes part in a training session at Jubilee Stadium in Sydney, on Aug 5.
PHOTO: AFP
WELLINGTON – Netherlands coach Andries Jonker has said he “knows everything” about Spain ahead of their Women’s World Cup quarter-final on Friday, thanks in part to former Spanish international Damaris Egurrola.
Egurrola made one appearance for Spain in a friendly and was a regular in their youth teams, but the midfielder now plays for the Dutch and is in contention to start in Wellington.
Jonker and his coaching staff have also been briefed about what to expect from their opponents by defender Merel van Dongen, who plays for Atletico Madrid, while Stefanie van der Gragt and Lieke Martens both had spells with Barcelona.
“We know everything about Spain. We have a small book about them,” he said on Thursday.
“We spoke with our players, and of course Damaris, who knows a lot about Spain. Our scouting team did their job. I think they (Spain) won’t surprise us.”
The Netherlands reached the quarter-finals by beating South Africa 2-0 in the last 16, while Spain booked their place with a 5-1 thumping of Switzerland.
The Dutch team reached the final in 2019, losing 2-0 to the United States, but a fluid Spain team full of individual quality are slight favourites in Wellington.
“We have all the respect for Spain, for what they have achieved in the past, for the way they play, the way they intend to play,” added Jonker, whose side are efficient rather than effervescent.
“But we are not afraid at all. We’ll play our own game and it’s up to Spain to solve that.”
If they reach the semi-finals they will face Japan or Sweden, with the final on Aug 20 in Sydney.
Spain coach Jorge Vilda, meanwhile, singled out Netherlands attacker Martens, who played in the 2019 final and is at her third World Cup, as a key threat.
“She has played very well at this World Cup. We haven’t seen her play at this level for a long time,” he said.
“She’s a very potent player.”
He added of his side’s chances for Friday: “The team are united. We have a group that compete and they are all fighting for the same objective, and they’re very motivated.”
Spain have never got this far at a Women’s World Cup. Defender Ivana Andres admitted feeling nervous, “but they are good nerves”.
“These are the games we really love to play, life-or-death games,” she added.
“We are going to leave everything out there. We want to make history and we’re going for it.”
AFP, REUTERS
