Victoria Pelova got herself on the scoresheet as the Netherlands cruised to a 3-0 win over Wales in their opening game of Euro 2025.
Meanwhile, it was a disappointing start for holders England, with five of our Gunners in action for the Lionesses during their 2-1 defeat to France.
Both England and the Netherlands are in the same group, dubbed the toughest in the competition, so the Dutch will be relieved to get off to a winning start against Euros debutants Wales.
They held firm in the first half, but our two Dutch representatives did the damage to put the 2017 champions in control. In injury-time, who ex-Gunners combined when Danielle van de Donk set up Vivienna Miedema to find the top corner to register her 100th goal for her country in style.
Then three minutes into the second half, Van de Donk got behind the defence and picked out her club and international teammate Victoria, who took a neat touch to lift the ball up and struck it sweetly into the bottom corner.
She then provided the cross that put the game beyond reach with her ball to the back post converted by Esmee Brugts from close range before the hour mark, while Daphne van Domselaar kept a clean sheet on a quiet afternoon with Wales not hitting a shot on target through the 90 minutes.
Speaking post-match, Victoria said: “When I got injured, I immediately asked if I could make the Euros. The last year’s been so stressful. Before the game, I told myself I made it and that was a proud moment, but to score was really nice.”
Read more Van Domselaar and Pelova: Dutch duo go for glory
Next up for Pelova and Van Domselaar is a meeting with England on Wednesday, whose poor start to the game against France saw them slip to an opening defeat.
Alessia Russo thought she had given her country the lead when she tucked in a rebound but Beth Mead was ruled offside in the build-up, but quick-fire goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore three minutes apart ultimately did the damage.
Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang were introduced in the second half - Michelle making her international tournament debut - but despite Keira Walsh giving the Lionesses hope with a long-ranger with three minutes to go, Sarina Weigman’s side fell to defeat.
Skipper Leah Williamson said: “We lost the game [with] poor defending one v one. We learnt from those mistakes in fairness. Not good enough with the ball, we weren't good enough. We got better and took advantage of that but not enough in the end.
“Sometimes it happens. The positive is I've not seen us like that in terms of turning over the ball so much for a while now. Tomorrow, back on it and there was some really good stuff towards the end.”
Read more When our players are in action at Euro 2025
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