Fans heading to cheer on their EUROS heroes at Livingston can expect a tasty encounter against next summer’s hosts in the ‘friendly’ international tonight…
Scotland v Netherlands
Tony Macaroni Arena, Livingston
Thursday 20 October 2016
Kick-off 7pm
Old rivalries will be renewed and friendships set aside for 90 minutes in Livingston tonight (Thursday) when Scotland host the Netherlands in their first warm-up for next year’s UEFA European Championships writes CATHERINE ETOE.
In the last couple of years, the Netherlands have denied Scotland a place at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, while the Scots have twice outclassed the Dutch in the Cyprus Cup.
In September, Scotland made history by qualifying for Euro 2017, their first major tournament, while the Dutch are automatically through as hosts so have had to remain on their toes with friendlies against world class sides such as USA and Canada.
Meanwhile, several of Scotland’s key players such as Bayern Munich’s Lisa Evans, Manchester City’s Jane Ross, Liverpool’s Caroline Weir and Arsenal’s Emma Mitchell have become club mates with some of the Netherland’s hottest properties.
All of which ought to make for a top class encounter when the two Euro rivals face-off at the Tony Macaroni Arena at 7pm.
“That will be the first test, to see where we are and they are,” Scotland boss Anna Signeul told She Kicks. “Hopefully we have developed, but so have they and hopefully we can give a good performance, that would be a good boost for the planning and going into the winter season.”
Scotland will be without Seattle Reign’s Rachel Corsie (knee), recent Arsenal signing Kim Little (hamstring), plus Man City’s Jen Beattie (flu), but Signeul was pragmatic when she met the media in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
“It’s always disappointing not to have all your players available but I think at this time we need to look at the players, their need to rest and their welfare,” she said. “So this game is great for those that are fit and can play, for others that need to start to rest and take this time to get fit again I think that’s more important.”
Signeul’s opposite number Arjan van der Laan is a few big game players short too, imposing Bayern Munich defender Stefanie van der Gragt has withdrawn from the squad with a facial injury sustained in a recent Frauen Bundesliga match.
Forwards Lieke Martens and Manon Melis, who both scored home and away against Scotland in the World Cup play-offs in 2014 will not appear in Livingston either; FC Rosengard’s Martens is out with a knee injury and in March, Seattle Reign’s Melis retired from international action with a record of 59 goals in 136 appearances.
Lisa Evans (left), who plays her club football alongside Van der Gragt, is still wary of the threat posed by the tall and physical Dutch, however.
“They’ve got really good players to replace them,” said Evans. “I think it is a loss for them not to have Melis, I know that she’s given us a lot of problems in the past and a lot of players probably have nightmares still [of] playing against Melis. But at the same time they’ve obviously got players to come in and do as good a job.”
Evans, who scored a hat-trick against the Netherlands in the Cyprus Cup in March 2014, says that among those are Liverpool striker Shanice van de Sanden and her own club mate at Bayern, the precociously talented Vivianne Miedema.
“I would regard her as probably one of the best strikers in Europe,” said Evans of Dutch hotshot Miedema, who has 26 goals in 38 appearances for her national side and is still only 20 years old. “She’s absolute quality and lethal, a goal getter and a predator and I think she’s shown that with the national team and the club. She is just clinical.”
Not that Scotland’s Hibs contingent need warning of Miedema’s talent, the youngster caused them a headache after scoring in both legs as Bayern demolished the Edinburgh side in the UEFA Women’s Champions League round of 32 earlier this month.
Evans, who joined Bayern in 2015, also shone in those encounters, grabbing a goal in the return leg, and the 24-year-old feels she is reaping the benefits of playing for the star-studded Frauen Bundesliga outfit.
“Yes, I feel like I’m in really good form,” said Evans. “But I do have that competition in the team and we’ve got such good players. I think our squad is about 26 players and it’s just perform in training to the best you can and try and keep your nose in front.”
Signeul will no doubt hope that all her players keep their noses in front against the Oranje Leeuwinnen tonight.
TEAMS:
Scotland: Gemma Fay (Glasgow City), Shannon Lynn (Vittsjo GIK), Frankie Brown (Bristol City), Ifeoma Dieke (Vittsjo GIK), Nicola Docherty (Glasgow City), Emma Mitchell (Arsenal), Joelle Murray (Hibernian), Kirsty Smith (Hibernian), Leanne Crichton (Notts County), Erin Cuthbert (Glasgow City), Lisa Evans (Bayern Munich), Hayley Lauder (Glasgow City), Joanne Love (Glasgow City), Christie Murray (Doncaster Rovers Belles), Leanne Ross (Glasgow City), Caroline Weir (Liverpool) Lizzie Arnot (Hibernian), Fiona Brown (Glasgow City), Lana Clelland (UPC Tavagnacco), Zoe Ness (Mallbackens IF), Jane Ross (Manchester City).
Netherlands: Eshly Bakker (FC Twente), Lineth Beerensteyn (FC Twente), Mandy van den Berg (Liverpool FC), Angela Christ (PSV), Anouk Dekker (Montpellier HSC), Merel van Dongen (Ajax), Daniëlle van de Donk (Arsenal), Kika van Es (Achilles’29), Loes Geurts (Paris Saint-Germain), Stefanie van der Gragt (Bayern München), Jackie Groenen (FFC Frankfurt), Ellen Jansen (FC Twente), Renate Jansen (FC Twente), Dominique Janssen (Arsenal), Desiree van Lunteren (Ajax), Tessel Middag (Manchester City), Vivianne Miedema (Bayern München), Shanice van de Sanden (Liverpool FC), Renee Slegers (Linköping FC), Sherida Spitse (LSK Kvinner FK), Sari van Veenendaal (Arsenal), Siri Worm (FC Twente) en Kelly Zeeman (Ajax).
(Images of Scotland training at Oriam by Catherine Etoe)
