Wales v Netherlands dwell: Vivianne Miedema scores stunner towards Women’s Euro 2025 underdogs
Wales make their major tournament debuts as they take on Netherlands at Euro 2025. The Welsh are the lowest-ranked team at the Euros and have been drawn in a heavyweight group alongside holders England, 2017 champions Netherlands and France.
But Wales are determined to embrace the occasion and inspire a generation back home when they play the Netherlands in Lucerne. “This is what we’ve been wanting,” head coach Rhian Wilkinson said. “To showcase Wales as a country, this team and their talent.”
Former captain Sophie Ingle has been named in the Wales squad despite not playing a competitive match in over a year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while Netherlands have a number of star players including striker Vivianne Miedema.
“They are a top team, very fluid, and have some of the biggest stars in the game,” Wilkinson said. “They’re really an enjoyable team to watch and I’m looking forward to challenging my team against them.”
Follow updates from Wales vs Netherlands in our live blog below
GOAL! Wales 0-3 Netherlands (BRUGTS 57′)
And it’s 3-0! Just after the Netherlands hit the bar for the third time in this match, Esmee Brugts pops up at the back post to finish low into the net. A lovely finish from the Barcelona wing-back and you worry now for Wales.
Wales 0-2 Netherlands
52 mins: OOOF off the post again! Roord, for the second time in this match, hits the woodwork. Miedema released her with a wonderful spin and pass through. Roord looked to lift it over Clark, but clips the bar!
Wales are hanging on…
GOAL! Wales 0-2 Netherlands (PELOVA 48′)
A goal right before half-time, and a goal straight after the restart! The Netherlands double their lead. A long ball forward to Danielle van de Donk beats the Wales defence and the midfielder picks out Arsenal’s Victoria Pelova, who beats the goalkeeper Evans. Some breathing space for Netherlands.
HALF TIME: Wales 0-1 Netherlands
Wales had actually managed to keep Miedema pretty quiet that half, limiting the Netherlands captain to 12 touches. But wow, was that 12th touch something special.
HALF TIME! Wales 0-1 Netherlands
A proper gut-punch from Miedema right before half-time. Her strike was one of the last touches of the first half, where Wales had done really well to frustrate Netherlands and limit them to a few chances. But Miedema produced something special to unlock the door.
GOOOOOOAL! Wales 0-1 Netherlands (MIEDEMA 45+2)
WOOOOW! What a way to bring up the 100! Miedema bends in a stunning shot from the angle of the box, finding the top corner with a vicious, bending strike! She becomes the first Netherlands player, male or female, to reach 100 goals for her country!
Wales 0-0 Netherlands
45 mins: Into three minutes of stoppage time. Wales clear what was the Netherlands’ first corner of the match, then James nips in well to beat Miedema to the ball…
Wales 0-0 Netherlands
43 mins: Wales with a bit of sustained pressure at the end of the half, and they win another corner after Green’s shot from distance is blocked wide by Brugts.
Holland’s first corner is cleared at the front post, then it breaks to Woodham but she can’t keep her shot down from inside the box!
Still, that raises the belief for Wales by another level. And they’re very close to making it to halftime level.
Wales 0-0 Netherlands
36 mins: Holland does ever so well to win a corner down the right and it fives Wales the chance to send some red shirts forward into the box. The cross, though, is cleared by the Netherlands at the front of the six-yard box.
Wales 0-0 Netherlands
34 mins: OFF THE POST! Wow, what a goal this would have been from Jill Roord! She takes down a knockdown and cracks a vicious half-volley from 25 yards that swerves at the last moment and crashes into the post! So unlucky!
But Wales survive!
