What Went Wrong With The Netherlands at the UEFA Women’s Championship?

The Netherlands is a proud football/soccer nation known for playing the style known as total football. Dutch ideas and tactics, even the Cruyff Turn, are all synonymous with changing the game as we know it for the better. In 2017 and 2019, under Sarina Weigman, it seemed that the Dutch’s golden era had begun. A European Championship and a second-place finish at the World Cup is quite the accomplishment considering they’d never been to a final in either competition. 

A talented group of stars wasn’t enough to keep Sarina Wiegman around, which meant a successor needed to be appointed. Enter Mark Parsons. A great manager in his own right, winning two NWSL titles with the giant that is the Portland Thorns, he was one of the biggest names out there.

However, knowing the style of play that the Dutch like to implement, is Parsons the right fit? The defending champs of the Euros had high expectations and fizzled out with a whisper. This begs the question, what went wrong with the Netherlands at the UEFA Women’s Championship?

Missing a Star Player

Before we continue to criticize the Dutch for their poor performance, there’s one thing to get out of the way. Their superstar, Vivianne Miedema, did miss the first two Group Stage matches due to COVID. Having no real replacement for her definitely impacted the team. It broke up some of the continuity they would’ve liked to go into their quarterfinal match with France. However, there are plenty of other warning signs that indicate the Dutch weren’t the same team that won the Euros five years ago. 

Losses Before and During the UEFA Women’s Championship

The first was the 5-1 drubbing at the hands of England before the tournament. Sarina Weigman was on the other side coaching England, and despite taking the lead, the Dutch lost 5-1. In terms of formation, it’s identical to what the Dutch came out with in 2017 and 2019. The same can be said for most of the Starting XI as well.

Yet, they conceded a two-goal lead to Portugal. And, they almost got bounced by the Swiss if Ramona Bachmann took her chance to make the game 2-1, but they pulled it out late and won 4-1. Even in the quarterfinals, Mark Parsons chose to come out in a 4-3-3 mirroring what France was doing and, with 48% possession, still only managed one shot on target. Why make that big of a change in the biggest of games? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Unfortunately, the losses in big games seem to be something that follows Mark Parsons. 

Mark Parsons’ Coaching

Look no further than his time with the Portland Thorns. He won two NWSL titles, but in the years his teams finished with the best record, they never even made it to the NWSL final. His teams dominated in the regular season. But, they would run out of steam towards the end and come up just short. The styles of play between America and Europe are still so different in terms of speed and tactics. You’d be hard-pressed to find a single manager who left the NWSL to coach an international team in Europe and have much success. 

The team was the same; the formation was the same but how the team played was different. There didn’t seem to be that same spark and killer instinct needed to close out games. Mark Parsons and the Netherlands still have next year’s World Cup to redeem themselves because bowing out in the quarterfinals of the Euros is the last thing anyone expected. 

Featured image via Getty Images

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