Defender Stefanie van der Gragt highlighted that in the next matches in women’s world cup the Netherlands defensive line must rely on trust and togetherness to counter the lightning-fast striker, Thembi Kgatlana, during their round of 16 match against South Africa at the World Cup in Sydney on Sunday.
Kgatlana played a crucial role in her team’s victories, including the last-gasp scorcher that dramatically eliminated Italy from the tournament. Van der Gragt emphasized the importance of supporting each other and maintaining strong defensive positioning during the match.
At this year’s women’s world cup , Netherlands, ranked ninth, emerged as the leader of Group E with two wins and a draw against the two-time reigning champion, the United States. Coach Andries Jonker noted the squad’s success in dealing with fast attackers in previous matches and friendlies, including Portugal, Costa Rica, and Poland.
Jonker explained that proper positioning, team assistance, and attentive goalkeeping have contributed to their control over such challenges. Despite their higher rank, the Dutch are not underestimating South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, as the tournament has shown that no team should be taken lightly.
Jonker sees the upcoming match as a fight between two countries, with both having a strong desire to advance to the quarterfinals in New Zealand. Van der Gragt attributed the Netherlands’ tournament consistency to their tight-knit team dynamic and the willingness to support and defend each other on the pitch.
The Dutch team, having traveled from Dunedin to Sydney, remains focused and committed to their performance. Coach Jonker has taken the team’s schedule in stride, adopting a positive attitude and embracing the challenges that come their way.
