Latest news with #NetherlandsFootball
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Netherlands coach denies causing Euro 2025 ‘puppet show' with podcast comments
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker has denied causing a distraction for his team at the 2025 European Championship after appearing on a podcast to discuss his impending departure shortly before the beginning of the tournament. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced in January that Jonker's contract would not be extended beyond the end of Euro 2025. Advertisement Speaking on the NOS Football Podcast in an episode published on Thursday, the 62-year-old said he considered quitting his role ahead of the tournament and expressed concerns over his authority and the support he was receiving. In a heated exchange with the media ahead of the Netherlands' Euro 2025 opener against Wales on Saturday, Jonker was accused by one journalist of creating a 'puppet show', whereby everything was about him and not the players. He responded: 'These women have given everything in 2025. Everything. And we have done that together. You people are all here today and this is thanks to us. To these women. The royal family will be there. And you have the guts to call it puppetry. If you think it's a puppet show, than you're entitled to your opinion. You are insulting the players. I have never seen you at training sessions and you're asking the players if they will believe the puppet show.' Then questioned if he regretted his comments on the podcast, Jonker said: 'No, you know me. Sherida's (Spitse, the Netherlands captain, who was sitting next to him at the press conference) attitude tells you clearly that it doesn't affect her, it doesn't affect the team. We want to win. We want to do well.' Advertisement Asked if the comments would create an interference at the tournament, he replied: 'No, only in the media. Not with the players. You heard her (Spitse). The players know what they need to do. We want to clinch our first win this tournament and we need to do it together.' Jonker was appointed Netherlands head coach in 2022, succeeding Mark Parsons. He led the side to the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Spain, but the Dutch failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. England assistant head coach Arjan Veurink has been confirmed as his successor. Captain Spitse insisted the team's 'focus was on football'. Asked if Jonker was wrong to make the comments, she replied: 'You're asking me the question, but he's sitting next to me. Why don't you ask him? I can't speak on the coach's behalf.' 'A remarkable press conference' The small media room at Swissporarena was already hot, baked in the afternoon sun of Lucerne. But as bodies piled in, filling the space like a flooded house, there loomed the unshakable sensation of something big coming. Advertisement And then it happened. Sherida Spitse and Andries Jonker took what felt like the stand, interrogated over Jonker's comments published 24 hours prior. Spitse did her best to defer, to insist group harmony was in order. But after 15 minutes, she retired, leaving Jonker to defend his decision to speak so publicly on a podcast about internal affairs. And so began the interrogation: media versus Jonker. With each question agitation grew, to a point where there was no clear line between question or answer and simply words being spat at each other, slicing through the hot air. When a journalist accused Jonker of confecting a puppet show, Jonker returned the insult, then questioned the journalist's record of covering the team. Finally, the head coach sighed, announced he was finished answering the questions. And so ended a truly phenomenal press conference, in which anything but harmony seemed to exist. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Netherlands, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
04-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Netherlands coach denies causing Euro 2025 ‘puppet show' with podcast comments
Netherlands head coach Andries Jonker has denied causing a distraction for his team at the 2025 European Championship after appearing on a podcast to discuss his impending departure shortly before the beginning of the tournament. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced in January that Jonker's contract would not be extended beyond the end of Euro 2025. Advertisement Speaking on the NOS Football Podcast in an episode published on Thursday, the 62-year-old said he considered quitting his role ahead of the tournament and expressed concerns over his authority and the support he was receiving. In a heated exchange with the media ahead of the Netherlands' Euro 2025 opener against Wales on Saturday, Jonker was accused by one journalist of creating a 'puppet show', whereby everything was about him and not the players. He responded: 'These women have given everything in 2025. Everything. And we have done that together. You people are all here today and this is thanks to us. To these women. The royal family will be there. And you have the guts to call it puppetry. If you think it's a puppet show, than you're entitled to your opinion. You are insulting the players. I have never seen you at training sessions and you're asking the players if they will believe the puppet show.' Then questioned if he regretted his comments on the podcast, Jonker said: 'No, you know me. Sherida's (Spitse, the Netherlands captain, who was sitting next to him at the press conference) attitude tells you clearly that it doesn't affect her, it doesn't affect the team. We want to win. We want to do well.' Asked if the comments would create an interference at the tournament, he replied: 'No, only in the media. Not with the players. You heard her (Spitse). The players know what they need to do. We want to clinch our first win this tournament and we need to do it together.' Jonker was appointed Netherlands head coach in 2022, succeeding Mark Parsons. He led the side to the quarter-finals of the 2023 World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions Spain, but the Dutch failed to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. England assistant head coach Arjan Veurink has been confirmed as his successor. Captain Spitse insisted the team's 'focus was on football'. Asked if Jonker was wrong to make the comments, she replied: 'You're asking me the question, but he's sitting next to me. Why don't you ask him? I can't speak on the coach's behalf.' The small media room at Swissporarena was already hot, baked in the afternoon sun of Lucerne. But as bodies piled in, filling the space like a flooded house, there loomed the unshakable sensation of something big coming. And then it happened. Sherida Spitse and Andries Jonker took what felt like the stand, interrogated over Jonker's comments published 24 hours prior. Spitse did her best to defer, to insist group harmony was in order. But after 15 minutes, she retired, leaving Jonker to defend his decision to speak so publicly on a podcast about internal affairs. Advertisement And so began the interrogation: media versus Jonker. With each question agitation grew, to a point where there was no clear line between question or answer and simply words being spat at each other, slicing through the hot air. When a journalist accused Jonker of confecting a puppet show, Jonker returned the insult, then questioned the journalist's record of covering the team. Finally, the head coach sighed, announced he was finished answering the questions. And so ended a truly phenomenal press conference, in which anything but harmony seemed to exist.
The Independent
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Wales vs Netherlands prediction: No dream start for Dragons
Wales face the Netherlands in their opening match of Euro 2025 on Saturday, with the British side hoping to spring a surprise in Lucerne (5pm, BBC1). Wales are the lowest-ranked team in the competition, sitting in 30th in the Fifa world rankings, and though they lost just one of their 10 games in qualifying, they have struggled in recent meetings with top-tier nations, with recent losses to Denmark and Italy in the Nations League. Meanwhile the Dutch, who won this tournament in 2017, don't quite enter among the favourites to win the competition, though a squad containing players such as Wieke Kaptein, Vivianne Miedema and Danielle van de Donk is enough to threaten any side in the competition. The Netherlands are the overwhelming favourites for Saturday's game, with betting sites making them no bigger than 1/5 to beat Rhian Wilkinson's side in what will be Wales' first-ever match at a major tournament. Wales vs Netherlands betting preview: No slip-ups from former champs Wales couldn't have asked for a tougher assignment at their maiden summer tournament than to be placed in Group D of these Euros. The section contains two of the top sides in the outright Euro 2025 odds, England and France, well as 20/1 outsiders the Netherlands. For comparison, Wales are priced at 300/1 to win Euro 2025. The Welsh have won just one of their last 10 matches, conceding 14 goals in that time and keeping just two clean sheets. Their recent Nations League A campaign revealed some worrying flaws in Wilkinson's team as they failed to win any of their games against Sweden, Denmark and Italy, losing 4-1 to the latter in their most recent outing. With the Dutch having won six of their last 10 – and losing only to the likes of the USA and Germany – while scoring 20 goals in the process, it looks like this match will only go one way for Wales. Adding a Dutch win to nil, which they've achieved in the last three meetings with Wales, will boost the odds on a Netherlands victory on football betting sites. Wales vs Netherlands best bets: Miedema to get Dutch on their way Vivianne Miedema remains one of the star names on the Dutch teamsheet, with the Manchester City striker having seemingly fully recovered from the knee surgery she underwent in October. The 28-year-old scored seven goals in her 11 league appearances this season and more recently, she featured in the Netherlands' warm-up match against Finland on 26 June, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win. The former Arsenal striker has a superb international record, having scored 99 times in 125 appearances, and we're backing her to add to that tally against Wales at the weekend, with odds offered around 4/6. Please gamble responsibly Bettors should always practice responsible gambling. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive. Please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, betting apps, or any other gambling medium. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. It's particularly important not to get carried away by any free bets or casino offers you might receive, both of which are available in abundance on gambling sites, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
CNA
10-06-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Depay equals scoring record as Dutch thrash Malta
GRONINGEN, Netherlands :Memphis Depay scored twice to equal the Netherlands' goal-scoring record as the Dutch hammered Malta 8-0 on Tuesday for a second successive World Cup qualifying victory. Depay converted a ninth-minute penalty and fired home a powerful shot seven minutes later to match Robin van Persie's record of 50 goals for the Dutch national team. Both achieved the tally in 102 appearances. Substitute Donyell Malen also scored a double with captain Virgil van Dijk, Xavi Simons, Noa Lang and Micky van de Ven adding the other goals as the Dutch won a second Group G qualifier after beating Finland in Helsinki on Saturday. Depay's opener at the Euroborg stadium came after Justin Kluivert was clipped in the penalty area, followed swiftly by his 50th goal for his country. That proved a much more impressive effort as the ball was pulled back from the byline for Depay to thrash it home from the edge of the area.
