Netherlands face off against South Africa in an intriguing last-16 battle for a place in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
NED-W vs SA-W Match Details
Date: Sunday, 6 August 2023
Time: 07:30 (IST) / 20:00 (ACT)
Venue: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
NED-W vs SA-W Match Preview
The Netherlands knew they could not have made any excuses if they underperformed against Vietnam in their chase to be the group winners. So, they went on thrashing the newcomers 7-0. Lieke Martens became the first Dutch player to score in three different Women’s World Cups with a dink over the keeper to give an eighth-minute lead. The floodgates opened with Katja Snoeijs and Danielle Van de Donk adding to their tally. Esmee Brugts and Jill Roord scored in each half to give the Netherlands their biggest-ever win at the Women’s World Cup stage. Their classy victory coupled with the USA playing a shock draw against Portugal in the other match resulted in them finishing at the top of the group. As a case, they avoided facing Sweden who topped G and will play runners-up South Africa instead in the last-16 stage. Overall, the Dutch had a decent outing so far starting with a 1-0 victory over Portugal before drawing with the holders in the group stages. The massive win in the last group match means they qualified for knockouts in all three finals participated in. The Netherlands will hope their good work is not plundered by another upset in the tournament as they look for another run to the final like four years ago.
As they were often found guilty of slipping off after taking the lead like in the late loss to Sweden in the opener or the 2-2 draw with Argentina when they were two goals to the good, South Africa was dreading when Italy levelled the score-line from 2-1 in the 74th minute. However, the Banyana girls did not lose hope this time with qualification chances from the group stages dangling by a thread. In the stoppage time, they found their dramatic winner through Thembi Kgatlana after a neat combination between Jermaine Seoposenwe and Hildah Magaia. Desiree Ellis’s team went behind inside 10 minutes giving away a spot-kick that was converted by Italy’s Arianna Caruso. But Benedetta Orisi passing onto her own net before the break and then Magaia snatching the lead seemed to have put South Africa on their way. They had to wait for their historical achievement after Caruso once again got on the scoresheet. Their first-ever qualification to the World Cup knockouts even with key personnel missing cannot make them less proud of it. Amid all the jubilations, South Africa knows they will be underdogs again going into the last-16 clash with the Dutch but they are unfazed about that tag by now.
Recent Form (Women’s World Cup)
NED-W: WDW
SA-W: WDL
NED-W vs SA-W Team News
There is no question that the Netherlands will stay consistent in their squad selection and stick with the team that ripped apart Vietnam in the last group game. Regardless of Lineth Beerensteyn’s fitness, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, Katja Snoeijs will continue to pair Lieke Martens up front. The defence that have conceded just one goal so far will remain unchanged with Sherida Spitse set for a record-extending 220th senior cap for her country.
Star midfielder Refiloe Jane continues to be absent for South Africa after picking up an injury in the second group game against Argentina. Clearing her suspension from the Italy match, Kholosa Biyana is back available for selection. Coach Desiree Ellis is expected to make little to no changes to the squad that made history on Wednesday. The attacking pair of Hildah Magaia and Thembi Kgatlana will be key to creating more upset in the competition.
NED-W vs SA-W Predicted Lineups
NED-W: Van Domselaar; Spitse, Van der Gragt, Janssen; Pelova, Roord, Groenen, Van de Donk, Brugts; Snoeijs, Martens
SA-W: Swart; Ramalepe, Mbane, Gamede, Dhalmini; Biyana, Motlhalo; Cesane, Seoposenwe, Magaia; Kgatlana
NED-W vs SA-W Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Van Domselaar (Cr - 8, Pts - 78)
DEF: Spitse (Cr - 8, Pts - 144), Van der Gragt (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 182), Gamede (Cr - 8, Pts - 79)
MID: Roord (Cr - 9, Pts - 282), Mothalo (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 106), Seoposenwe (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 98), Brugts (Cr - 8, Pts - 209),
FW: Martens (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 159), Magaia (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 181), Kgatlana (Cr - 9, Pts - 200)
Vice-captain: Lieke Martens or Esmee Brugts
Captain: Jill Roord
Hildah Magaia has scored 2 goals in 3 group games and also created 5 chances. Her teammate Thembi Kgatlana has provided a goal and an assist in each of her last two games.
Lieke Martens delivered a goal and an assist in the 7-0 victory over Vietnam. The Paris Saint-Germain winger has now scored a total of 4 goals in three finals.
Jill Roord has bagged 3 goals so far in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. She got only one goal in the Netherlands run to the final in 2019.
