In Lucerne, Switzerland, Netherlands star Vivianne Miedema scored her 100th international goal to lead her team to a 3-0 victory over Wales in the Women’s European Championship debut on Saturday. Despite a season hampered by injuries, Miedema’s outstanding performance in the opening game of the challenging group was a pleasant surprise. The dominant win served as a tough lesson for Wales as they entered major women’s tournament soccer. The Netherlands’ convincing display indicated their potential to progress from Group D, with France also securing a 2-1 win over defending champions England in the late match. Miedema’s historic milestone came with a superb curling shot just before halftime, marking a significant achievement at the age of 28 after battling injuries for three years. The Dutch team continued their strong performance in the second half, adding goals by Victoria Pelova and Esmee Brugts. Despite hitting the crossbar twice and a post, the Dutch were unable to extend their lead further. Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson acknowledged the Dutch team’s exceptional performance and emphasized the need to minimize defensive lapses. The match also saw Wales veterans Jess Fishlock and Angharad James make their tournament debuts, with Fishlock highlighting the importance of focus and concentration. The game, played in slightly cooler conditions than the Swiss heatwave, ended with the Netherlands setting their sights on a matchup against England in Zurich, where they will face their former coach Sarina Wiegman. Wiegman, who led the Dutch team to success in the 2017 European Championship and the 2019 World Cup final, will reunite with several familiar faces from her previous teams.
