Romee Leuchter puts Netherlands in last eight and eliminates Switzerland

The Netherlands got the job done at Bramall Lane in sweltering conditions to secure progress to the quarter-finals but despite a 4-1 win they did not score enough to top the group and will next play a dangerous-looking France side.

The Oranje only needed a draw to qualify, but despite the best efforts of Switzerland, were able to emerge victorious. The Dutch were tested early on in the game by Switzerland’s persistent, high press. Such was the effectiveness of Nils Nielsen’s 4-2-3-1 setup that they were able to deny Lieke Martens, usually, a defensive nightmare on the Netherlands left flank, access to the ball.

In contrast, the Swiss attack were powering through the opposition midfield with ease, evident through Sandy Maendly’s curling effort at goal in the 12th minute that had to be tipped over to safety by Daphne van Domselaar, and compounded by Ramona Bachmann’s swashbuckling runs down both flanks.

A sloppy start from the Oranje worked very well for Switzerland, buoying their qualification hopes. Yet what they had failed to factor in was the Netherlands’ second wind - which they had displayed in all of their first-half performances across the Euros.

As the Netherlands’ attack regained more possession, more passes trickled through to Martens and Lineth Beerensteyn. Eight minutes later the Dutch attack latched on to one of those through balls, with Beerensteyn leading the charge. Driving towards Gaelle Thaimann’s goal, her long legs seemed to become entangled with the keeper’s hesitant hands and in a flash, referee Juliana Demetrescu had pointed to the penalty spot.

A few moments of VAR inspection later and replays would show the keeper had just got her glove to the ball. The overturned decision, however, would only