Eve Perisset’s penalty in the 102nd minute was enough to finally breach Dutch goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar and end an operate of three directly Euro quarterfinal exits.
Van Domselaar spearheaded a stubborn screen from the Dutch who also, defending the name they won upon home soil five years ago, were outshot 33 to 9 by a dominant France side.
Having only obtained her second global cap in the opening match of the competition when starting goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal was injured just 30 minutes in, the particular 22-year-old made 10 saves in a virtuoso performance between the sticks.
Hailing the performance because “world class, ” Dutch coach Mark Parsons believed it was the best goalkeeping performance he had seen since Germany’s Nadine Angerer saved two penalties to help her group to victory in the 2013 final.
“Goalkeeper of the tournament, there’s no one also close to her, inch Parsons told reporters.
‘We are usually here to build history’
And on the rare occasion Van Domselaar was beaten, Dutch defenders threw their health on the line. Stefanie vehicle der Gragt provided the pick of the blocks, turning away Melvine Malard’s close-range strike with the girl knees mere in . from goal.
Yet the resistance was finally broken in the first half of extra time when Kadidiatou Diani felled Dominique Janssen in the box. Play was initially waved on by referee Ivana Martincic, yet a penalty was given after a check by the video assistant referee.
Van Domselaar got a hand to Perisset’s spot-kick, but could not keep out the well-struck effort from the defensive player, who signed for Chelsea in 06.
The French closed out their lead to stamp their ticket to the particular semifinals and a clash with Germany within Milton Keynes on Wednesday, sparking jubilant scenes of pleasure among players plus coach Corinne Diacre.
“I’m very proud as this team aimed at a huge target. This team gives absolutely everything, ” Diacre told reporters. “I like the fact that the players offered it their many and kept plugging away. They stayed true to our game plan.
“We would like to have scored earlier but we were up against an incredible Nederlander goalkeeper. In terms of our fitness, the groups gave lots of answers tonight, defensively as well.
“We have been rewarded for our effort. We are right here to build history : the players and staff want to make history for ourselves and there is still a bit of an approach to take, ” she added.
‘There’s not a player left along with anything in the tank’
In Germany, french face a team who won 6 consecutive Euro titles between 1995 plus 2013. The eight-time champions sealed their place in yet another semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Austria , but for Italy, it is uncharted waters after a heartbreaking operate of early completely.
Matchwinner Perisset said: “We’re very happy because we all always stumbled in the quarter-finals previously.
“Tonight, we managed to get past this stage. We all produced a very big performance. We’re happy and now we can savour this qualification for that semi-finals. ”
By contrast it was pictures of exhaustion and despair for the Dutch players, a lot of whom sunk towards the floor at the full-time whistle.
The return associated with prolific star striker Vivianne Miedema from Covid-19 had appeared set to boost the protecting champions, but the Toolbox forward looked isolated throughout as the Dutch were forced deeply to repel influx after wave associated with French attacks.
“It was obviously a tough game on her, she had absolutely nothing left at the end, inch Parsons said of Miedema.
There’s not really a player with anything at all left in the tank, in their bodies. They gave everything. The very first half we were dangling on by a thread.
“When we were better in attack and made chances, they were able to break. But our heroic defending had been very, very impressive, within almost every moment from the game. Everyone walked up. ”
France or even Germany will face the winner of web host England’s semifinal matchup along with Sweden in Sheffield on Wednesday.