Netherlands

NETHERLANDS

The Netherlands' qualification for UEFA Women's EURO 2009 and subsequent run to the semi-finals in Finland was a real breakthrough.

Although the team had already existed for nearly 30 years, there had been little success despite the presence in the 1980s and 1990s of defender Vera Pauw, who turned professional in Italy. It was her appointment as coach in 2005 that changed matters, and after a promising 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying bid which included a win in France, they made it to Finland in 2009 with a play-off defeat of seeds Spain.

Once there, the Netherlands proved a tough team to beat, overcoming Ukraine and crucially Denmark to reach the quarter-finals where they beat France on penalties. Although they then lost 2-1 in extra-time to England, their performance earned the players Olympic funding from the Dutch government. Pauw stepped down the following year, but under Roger Reijners they made it to UEFA Women's EURO 2013 with a more expansive style, finishing behind England in their group but ending as best runners-up to avoid the play-offs.

Tournament record
2009: semi-finals
2005: did not qualify
2001: did not qualify
1997: did not qualify
1995: did not qualify
1993: quarter-finals
1991: quarter-finals
1989: quarter-finals
1987: did not qualify
1984: did not qualify

2013 qualifying
Group 6 runners-up, P8 W6 D1 L1 F20 A2 Pts19 (best runners-up)

Top scorer: Manon Melis 8
Most appearances: Loes Geurts, Dyanne Bito, Mandy van den Berg, Anouk Hoogendijk, Sherida Spitse, Sylvia Smit, Lieke Martens 8

Friendly results since qualifying
24 October: D1-1 v France (h, Eindhoven)
9 February: W3-2 v Belgium (a, Zulte Waregem)
6 March: D1-1 v Finland (Cyprus Cup group, Larnaca)
8 March: D1-1 v Switzerland (Cyprus Cup group, Nicosia)
11 March: L0-1 v Canada (Cyprus Cup group, Nicosia)
13 March: L0-1 v Scotland (Cyprus Cup 5th place, Nicosia)
5 April: W1-0 v Denmark (a, Silkeborg)
9 April: L1-3 v United States (h, The Hague)
29 June: W3-1 v Australia (h, Velsen-Zuid)
3 July: W3-0 v Northern Ireland (h, Velsen-Zuid)

Competition record win
9-0 v Northern Ireland (h), 17/03/1990, 1991 qualifying

Competition record defeat
1-5 v Germany (a), 12/04/07, 2009 qualifying
1-5 v Denmark (h), 29/09/04. 2005 qualifying