The Dutch women’s football team, including Drenthe-born and raised striker Vivianne Miedema, fell to the United States in the championship match on Sunday, but the residents of Drenthe are no less proud of their local – and now global – sports hero.
Translation by Hans de Preter and Traci White
In Hoogeveen, where striker Vivianne Miedema calls home, RTV Drenthe reports that the disappointment lasted well after the lost final against the United States at the city post office where many residents watched the Lionesses go toe to toe with the United States. After a goalless first half, The Netherlands ultimately fell to the American team in Lyon 2-0.
“It’s a shame, but I think we can be very proud,” Miedema told national broadcaster NOS after the match. “I am personally very happy with my performance, and now I really just want to go on holiday.” According to the Standard, Miedema, who is 22-years-old and a stand out forward for the London Arsenal F.C., has scored 61 goals in 80 matches for the Dutch women’s national team and is the all-time leading scorer at the 2019 World Cup.
Even though the Dutch team did not bring home the trophy this time around, the Leeuwinnen’s second place finish guarantees them a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games, along with the United Kingdom and Sweden as the top three finishing European teams in the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
