For a while, everything pointed towards the Netherlands pulling off another comeback at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup™. Locked at 1-1 in their third place match with USA, penalties were looming after Ally Sentnor had put the Americans ahead on 11 minutes, before Robine Lacroix pulled the Ducth level 15 minutes later.
The Netherlands survived strong pressure from the US early on, and then late in regular time. They were fighting their way through extra time, helped not just by the crossbar but also by the fabulous Femke Liefting in goal, who had already carried them through the quarter-final penalty shoot-out against Colombia with two saves.
In the 120th minute, as penalties loomed, the US struck, via a Nayomi Buikema own goal, breaking Oranje hearts. The Netherlands having to settle for a second consecutive fourth place finish.
“The tournament had a lot of ups and downs, and we really showed that we are a team and I’m very proud of that,” Liefting told FIFA. “Right now I can’t really reflect on the whole tournament, I’m still a bit sad because we got so close to third place.”
“I feel sad right now, but I also know what we accomplished,” said teammate Robine Lacroix, who scored the equaliser. “Fourth place isn’t nothing. We reached the semi-finals, so after all, I feel proud of the team.”
“I think the US pressured us a lot, but we had chances too,” Lacroix reflected. “We had a great chance to score in, I think it was the 110th minute or something like that. If we scored that, if we got to the penalties, I know for sure we would have won the shoot-out.”
Forward Bo van Egmond echoed those thoughts: “I think it was a great tournament, we achieved a lot and I’m proud of the team. Today was not it. I could have scored, so I’m disappointed in myself. I just hoped we would win. The US were strong today, so it is what it is, but I’m still proud of the team.”
For all their disappointment after the narrow defeat, they also had plenty of positive reflections from the past month in Colombia.
“It was such an overwhelming World Cup,” Lacroix said. “I love the fans, I love the places, I love Cali. It actually felt like home when we came there the second time [for the semi-final]. It was weird because we said to each other, welcome home!”
“I think it was a great tournament – especially the Colombian fans who came to the stadium, there were so many people. I think it’s growing and I just love the tournament, I think it’s a great way to the future,” van Egmond reflected. “I learned a lot of things and it’s great to come back to the Netherlands with this experience in the bag.”
More than just results, the U-20 Women’s World Cup is also a staging post on what the players hope will be the road towards a long and successful senior career. “It’s good on my resume,” Lacroix admitted. “The World Cup is not nothing. It can help me to go to a good club.”
Having foiled Colombia in the last eight, Liefting wasn’t necessarily the most popular player in the tournament’s penultimate clash, but she too was full of praise for the local fans. “People were whistling at me, but I was still the same. It gives me motivation, probably more than I think. But I know that there are also many Colombians who love me, so it’s okay.”
“It’s a very big stage. It’s the biggest stage for our age. All the fans were amazing. We played against Colombia in front of a full stadium, it was incredible,” Liefting recalled. “To play against the best players from every country with different strategies, it makes you stronger. When we go home, we have this in our backpack.”
