The Netherlands’ coach, Andries Jonker, asserted that his team can overcome anyone at the FIFA Women’s World Cup after the Netherlands defeated Vietnam 7-0 on Tuesday to advance as group winners ahead of the hosts, the United States.
Esmee Brugts and Jill Roord each scored twice for the greatest victory at the competition thus far, surpassing Germany’s 6-0 thumping of Morocco.
The Netherlands pleased the Dunedin crowd of 8 215 spectators with a goal bonanza.
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The 2019 runners-up will now almost certainly avoid Sweden in the next round after winning Group E. Italy or South Africa are probably up next.
After watching the Dutch dominate, Jonker changed his mind about playing Sweden, who over the weekend smashed Italy 5-0. He had previously said he didn’t want to play Sweden.
“From the beginning of our preparations we were quite convinced we can beat every opponent in this tournament,” said Jonker.
“Of course it helps if you qualify first when the United States is in your group, you win 7-0 and you make wonderful goals.”
The Netherlands exited the Euros last summer in the quarterfinals, but Jonker insisted his team is now a very different proposition.
“A year ago we saw all sorts of teams in Europe who were better than us, but we managed to close the gap,” he said.
“So I think we can rightfully state that we will be able to win against anybody, but we have to make it happen.”
The Netherlands had 42 shots on goal over the entire 90 minutes of Vietnam’s game, which was its first World Cup game.
They overcame Vietnam, who had already been eliminated, in the opening 23 minutes by scoring their first four goals, with the greatest goal coming from Brugts’ top corner.
Lieke Martens scored the game’s first goal with eight minutes left by lobbing both her defender and Vietnamese custodian Thi Kim Thanh Tran.
With eight minutes left, she lobbed her defender and the Vietnamese custodian Thi Kim Thanh Tran.
Forward By defeating Tran with a stroke that she swung inside the post three minutes later, Katja Snoeijs increased the score to 2-0.
Following a fantastic third from Brugts, Roord volleyed in a cross for her first goal on minute 23.
As halftime drew near, Tran made an incredible save to deny Roord, but midfielder Danielle van de Donk was there to score on the rebound to make it 5-0.
Thi Hang Khong replaced Tran in the Vietnam goal during the second half, and 17-year-old Wieke Kaptein entered to make her third appearance for the Netherlands.
Brugts scored again, this time with a fierce shot into the other corner from outside the penalty area that gave Khong no chance.
Martens had a goal disallowed by the VAR for offside before Roord, who had already struck the woodwork, headed in the seventh goal with seven minutes left.