Captain Kaagman introduces the Dutch winners
Sunday, July 27, 2014
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Who are the quickest members of the Netherlands team, who are the quiet ones, the jokers? Inessa Kaagman – not a quiet one – talks us through the victorious Dutch squad.
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1 Jennifer Vreugdenhil (goalkeeper, ADO Den Haag)
Our No1. She's good with high balls and she gives us a lot of confidence because you know you can trust her – she won't let you down. She's not quiet, either.
2 Cornelia Peels (defender, PSV/FC Eindhoven)
A really fast full-back. There aren't many strikers who can outrun her.
3 Dominique Janssen (defender, SG Essen-Schönebeck)
A centre-back. She has a good pass, especially long cross-field balls. She is very strong, too, so not many get the better of her in a one-on-one. She scored an own goal against Scotland but never mind – it can happen to anyone.
4 Danique Kerkdijk (defender, FC Twente)
Our other main centre-back. She is better with the ball on the ground, keeping midfielders and forwards quiet.
5 Danielle Kuikstra (defender, sc Heerenveen)
A defender who likes to get forward whenever she has the ball, getting down the wings and delivering crosses. She's quite vocal, too, very funny. She's the team joker.
6 Kim Mourmans (midfielder, Standard Femina de Liège)
A defensive midfielder, my usual partner. She is strong in the air, strong in the tackle.
7 Jeslynn Kuijpers (forward, PSV/FC Eindhoven)
Really fast. She likes having the ball at her feet, dribbling at opponents. Right side, left side – it doesn't matter. And she can score, too, as she showed against Ireland.
8 Inessa Kaagman (midfielder, AFC Ajax)
My passing technique is probably my strength and I try to coach my team-mates when we're out on the pitch, to keep them organised. If they are not in the right position I let them know. I do a lot of talking.
9 Vivianne Miedema (forward, FC Bayern München)
Our main striker and the top scorer at this tournament. She's really important for us.
10 Jill Roord (forward, FC Twente)
Our No10. She is good at dribbling, coming deep to get possession and driving forward. She works well with Vivianne Miedema, providing assists, but can also score herself.
11 Lineth Beerensteyn (forward, ADO Den Haag)
Very fast. She has been used as a substitute here in Norway and when she comes on she can really break through defences – hopefully she can do the same against Spain.
12 Lucie Akkerman (defender, sc Heerenveen)
She is good in personal duels, man-marking and keeping tight to her opponents. It's really her strength.
13 Simone Kets (midfielder, sc Heerenveen)
Another fast player. She likes to drift into the middle and provide scoring opportunities.
14 Laura Strik (forward, PSV/FC Eindhoven)
Laura is great at combination play, linking up with the players around her to create openings. It's her style.
15 Lauren Delleman (defender, AFC Ajax)
I know Lauren Delleman well because she plays at my club. She always has a really good overview of the pitch. She reads the game well and has a good passing game, either short into the midfield or long to the forwards. She's one of the few quiet members of the squad.
16 Nienke Olthof (goalkeeper, sc Heerenveen)
A really good keeper but has had to bide her time behind Jennifer Vreugdenhil. She would be ready if needed. They're both very good.
17 Sharon Bruinenberg (midfielder, PEC Zwolle)
One of the quieter members of the squad, she has been used from the bench. She is a passing midfielder more than a running one, distributing the ball around the midfield.
18 Sippie Folkertsma (forward, sc Heerenveen)
The youngest member of the squad but she can hold her own. She's a good striker, as she showed against Norway. She's good on the ball.
Inessa Kaagman was talking to John Atkin