Netherlands hungry for experience

Gaining experience will be paramount for the Netherlands when they take on Hungary on Saturday, according to coach Vera Pauw.

Canada defeats
The Dutch currently lie behind England and France in FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying Group 5, and can go second with a win in Hungary, but Pauw insists their focus in on UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™, which the Dutch are bidding to host. "We want to grow towards 2009. That is our main goal," she said.
'Wider experience'
The Netherlands started their qualifying campaign with a superb 1-0 win in France, but they recently suffered a pair of friendly defeats against Canada which highlighted the amount of work still to be done. "We are always looking for chances to play against opponents like that, and we found a good time to play Canada. If we had focused purely on Hungary, we would never have played Canada, but instead we have gained some experience for the future," said Pauw.

Inevitable setbacks
"If you aim for the top of world football there will always be setbacks. In the end, everything adds to the weight of experience you gain." The Dutch coach named 19 players to travel to Hungary, with three more on standby.

Netherlands squad
Goalkeepers: Loes Geurts (FFC Heike Rheine), Marleen Wissink (1. FFC Frankfurt).

Defenders: Dyanne Bito (FFC Heike Rheine), Marloes de Boer (Be Quick '28), Dionne Demarteau (Fortuna Wormerveer V.V.), Petra Hogewoning (V.V. Ter Leede), Liesbeth Migchelsen (Fortuna Wormerveer V.V.).

Midfielders: Annemieke Griffioen (FCR 2001 Duisburg), Anouk Hoogendijk (Saestum), Gilanne Louwaars (Saestum), Felicienne Minnaar (H.V.V. JAC), Jessica Torny (FFC Heike Rheine), Shirley Smith (Saestum), Claudia Heiligenberg (RCL).

Forwards: Nicole Delies (CVV Oranje Nassau), Karin Legemate (V.V. Ter Leede), Manon Melis (RVVH), Sylvia Smit (Be Quick '28), Dominique Vugts (V.V. Stedoco).

Players on standby: Jeanine van Dalen (RVVH), Chavelli Stolk (V.V. Ter Leede), Jennifer Voss (FFC Heike Rheine)