The best-known female Dutch soccer player Vivianne Miedema, from Hoogeveen in Drenthe, has helped the Dutch national football team to victory over Russia
The Drents striker scored despite the sadness she felt from her grandfather passing away the week before, on Saturday.
The Dutch footballers have won their fourth match in their European Championship qualification campaign. The team, Managed by Sarina Wiegman, beat Russia in Eindhoven 2-0.
Daniëlle van de Donk opened the score in her hundredth international match, whilst her Arsenal team-mate Vivianne Miedema pounced to make it 2-0 after an hour of play. The 23-year-old is top scorer across all Dutch national football teams, and her goal against Russia was her 65th goal in 85 international matches. Understandably, Miedema burst into tears after her goal.
Miedema: “It was a shock”
“My grandfather died on Saturday. He was my biggest fan,” says Miedema about the story behind her tears. “It’s great that I could make this goal for him,” said Miedema.
The grandfather of the 23-year-old striker died on Saturday. “It was a shock, it happened quite unexpectedly. When we were in Slovenia last week, I had some contact with the family. The moment we landed in the Netherlands on Saturday, I was already too late”, the top scorer of all time told the Drenthe broadcaster RTV Drenthe.
Euro 2021
The reigning champions of Europe have also won in group A against Estonia (0-7), Turkey (3-0) and Slovenia (2-4). Sherida Spitse, who scored no fewer than five goals in the first three games, missed a penalty in the Philips stadium after 25 minutes of play.
The team continues their qualifying series that should lead to the European Championships of 2021 in England next month against Turkey (in Izmir) and Slovenia (in Arnhem).
