Despite reaching the World Cup final, the Netherlands are yet to show their true quality according to Arsenal’s Louise Quinn who is teammates with several of the squad.
While the Dutch have been described as a dark horse of the tournament, – reaching the final ahead of hosts France and the highly-rated Lionesses – speaking on the Saturday Panel Quinn said that it was not beyond what she expected.
“I’m not surprised but I wouldn't have said it’s been their best tournament. I really like the Dutch way of playing. Obviously playing against them it's one of the hardest games you can play.
“But playing with some of them, I just love playing with them, linking up with them and watching them do their thing when they are going forward.”
Quinn plays alongside Dutch captain and goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal as well as striker Vivianne Miedema and midfielders Daniëlle van de Donk and Jill Roord and said that the Arsenal's Dutch contingent all share a common attitude which enables their success.
“They have a very good and competitive mindset. They are very confident in themselves but not in an arrogant way.
“They are very realistic but they also know they have the quality there. They are the real spine of the [Arsenal] team.”
While Quinn noted that the Dutch have not been at their best, their baseline quality has been enough to get them to a World Cup Final.
One example is 22-year-old striker Miedema who has scored 61 international goals in 80 appearances.
“She is incredible in front of goal. She has scored 3 goals in the tournament and that is the quality she brings. She may not be having one of her better games but it's still at a standard that is brilliant. And she'll still either create or be a part of a goal in some way.
“I know what standard she can get to and I don't think she has reached it in this tournament but still compared to some other players she is having a great tournament”
Looking ahead to the final, Quinn thinks that the US will have enough to overcome the Dutch due, in part, to their less gruelling route to the final.
“I think it is going to be very tough. I think the Dutch have a big big challenge,” Quinn said.
“In terms of fitness, I think the US are just ahead of them. The Dutch have had a really tough run-in. The game before where they played Italy it was the middle of the day at 3 pm and [the temperature] was mid-30s. And then the last game that they [played in] went to extra time.
“They will hold their own but the intensity of the US is a bit too hot to handle for a lot of teams.”
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