The Netherlands head into their last two UEFA qualifiers as Group A2 leaders
The Dutch will face the Republic of Ireland in Cork on 5 June before hosting Poland on 9 June
Lineth Beerensteyn talks to FIFA about the team’s style of play under coach Arjan Veurink
For the Netherlands, the forthcoming week will be crucial in their quest to qualify for the . Arjan Veurink’s side – in a commanding position at the top of Group A2 after two hard-fought encounters with France in April – will face the Republic of Ireland in Cork on Friday before hosting Poland four days later, with everything still to play for.
The Netherlands’ home match against the Irish in March showed just how fiercely contested this group is. Lineth Beerensteyn was the game’s stand-out player with a brace in a 2-1 Dutch win, but the match was in the balance right up to the closing stages. Now, the OranjeLeeuwinnen face a return fixture in Cork against the same opponents, who are again sure to pose a tough test.
For Beerensteyn and her team-mates, though, the next week is about more than just two international matches. Direct qualification for the Women’s World Cup is at stake, and the striker is aware that everyone will need to be on their game.
In this interview with FIFA, she talks about the Netherlands’ matches so far, the new dynamic in the team’s play, and what qualifying for another global showpiece would mean to her.
Lineth Beerensteyn: We’ve done really well in some matches, but of course there have been some tough games too. As a team, we’re making really good progress at the moment. We’ve shown in every match that we’re ready – no matter who we’re up against. Our two recent games against France were good examples. Playing the French twice in quick succession is, of course, very demanding, but we did really well as a team. We’ve now got another two tough matches coming up, but we’re preparing well, and we’ll be ready.
The game in Poland was tricky. We knew that they would be strong opponents and that they have many exceptional players. At the same time, we have some very talented players too. This time, though, we’ll be at home. It will be another difficult match, but if we perform like we know we can, we can definitely win.
The home game against the Irish wasn’t easy either. We won 2-1, but it was a nail-biter right up until the end, and for a long time, it wasn’t clear whether we would win. In the end, we did – and the most important thing is always to win and pick up three points. We’ll be playing away from home this time, so it’ll be a different kind of game. They’ll no doubt prepare differently, too. They know how we play, and they won’t have forgotten the last match against us. It will definitely be a different type of game.
Fondly, because I scored twice! But I also know that every game is different. We’re going up against the Irish again, but the circumstances will be different this time. If we keep our team spirit high and show our quality on the pitch, chances will come our way.
We all know that if we win both of our last two matches, we’ll win the group. That is, of course, our goal, but we know it won’t be easy. We’ll have to give it our all – and then some – if we want to finish top. We need to concentrate on the game in Ireland first, and only after that will we shift our focus to Poland.
Our style is very dynamic. As a forward, I like being able to play in all three positions up front. If I start on the right, I can also pop up on the left or drift into the middle. We have a lot of freedom up top and can rotate during games. Our full-backs also push up high, so overall it’s a modern style of play. My role hasn’t really changed that much, but I’m taking on even more responsibility now. I knew I already had that within me, but it’s coming out more and more with the new coaching team. I’m really proud of that.
We’ve had some amazing years, but also some difficult times. That’s football for you – it’s not always plain sailing; there are sometimes setbacks too. I’ve been part of the national team for at least ten years now, and over that time, the team has made so much progress in every respect. It’s great to see how much we have grown. I’m just really happy and proud to have been part of that and to have witnessed it all. Playing my 125th game for the national team will obviously be an amazing feeling, too.
Playing in a tournament with the national team is the best thing any player can experience. A World Cup is something truly special, and it would be fantastic if we qualified directly. Then we’d know that we could use the months ahead to develop further and to try out some new things. We’re ready for these two matches – and after that, I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.
Sources: FIFA Official
