Romee Leuchter scored twice as defending champions the Netherlands set up an enticing Euro 2022 quarter-final with France by beating Switzerland at Bramall Lane to finish second in Group C.
Leuchter’s double came in the final 10 minutes, either side of Victoria Pelova’s finish, as the Swiss players tired in the sweltering heat.
An Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic own goal gave the Netherlands the lead early in the second-half but Geraldine Reuteler equalised almost immediately.
The Netherlands will play France, who topped Group D, for a place in the semi-finals at Rotherham’s New York Stadium on Saturday, 23 July (20:00 BST).
“France are a top opponent but so are we,” said Netherlands boss Mark Parsons. “They will not want to play us. We see an opportunity.”
The Dutch only needed to avoid defeat to go through while the Swiss had to win, a task that was made even more difficult in the heat when Stefanie van der Gragt’s header went in off Crnogorcevic four minutes into the second half.
However Switzerland delivered an almost immediate response as Reuteler coolly finished from Romana Bachmann’s pull-back just three minutes later.
They almost completed an incredible turnaround soon after when Coumba Sow’s close-range shot was superbly denied by Daphne van Domselaar, who then pushed the follow-up shot onto the post.
That got the 22,596 fans in attendance – a new record crowd for a European Championship group game not featuring the tournament hosts – excited for a grandstand finish, with both sides coming alive after a fairly sluggish first half.
And it was the Netherlands who finished on top, snatching the lead when substitute Leuchter nodded in her first international goal with seven minutes remaining.
The Dutch put the icing on the cake with two further goals late on as Switzerland’s players tired.
Pelova fired in, prompting a lengthy VAR check for a potential offside, before Leuchter slid in a fourth – her second – in added time.
Dutch will need to be better, despite late flurry
When the Netherlands won the European Women’s Championship for the first time five years ago they progressed from the group stage with a 100% record.
They have not been quite as convincing this time despite the late flurry of goals in this game, although they do go through unbeaten after drawing with group winners Sweden and beating Portugal and now Switzerland.
They have also been without their star player, Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema, who has not played since the opener against Sweden after testing positive for coronavirus.
In her absence, the Netherlands have lacked a creative spark, and that was evident in the first half of this game as they struggled to create notable chances before coming alive when Switzerland’s players tired in the heat.
But with progression secured, the Netherlands will hope to have Miedama available for the France game because, given how impressive France have been so far, they will certainly need her.
“We’re taking it day-by-day,” Parsons said of Miedama’s condition. “She is taking some steps. The schedule gives us an opportunity. I am sure I will be asked every day between now and kick-off but her health comes first.”
Player of the match
LeuchterRomée Leuchter
Switzerland
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Squad number1Player nameThalmannAverage rating
6.20
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Squad number2Player nameStierliAverage rating
6.11
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Squad number10Player nameBachmann
Average rating6.10
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Squad number9Player nameCrnogorcevic
Average rating6.04
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Squad number5Player nameMaritz
Average rating5.93
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Squad number8Player nameMaendly
Average rating5.90
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Squad number6Player nameReuteler
Average rating5.82
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Squad number11Player nameSow
Average rating5.79
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Squad number13Player nameWälti
Average rating5.78
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Squad number7Player nameXhemaili
Average rating5.76
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Squad number14Player nameKiwic
Average rating5.65
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Squad number15Player nameBühler
Average rating5.59
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Squad number18Player nameCalligaris
Average rating5.52
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Squad number19Player nameAigbogun
Average rating5.48
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Squad number17Player nameFolmli
Average rating5.47
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Squad number16Player nameMauron
Average rating5.10
Netherlands
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Squad number17Player nameLeuchter
Average rating7.20
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Squad number16Player namevan Domselaar
Average rating7.08
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Squad number12Player namePelova
Average rating6.86
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Squad number14Player nameGroenen
Average rating6.71
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Squad number10Player namevan de Donk
Average rating6.42
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Squad number21Player nameEgurrola
Average rating6.40
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Squad number3Player namevan der Gragt
Average rating6.38
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Squad number22Player nameBrugts
Average rating6.30
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Squad number18Player nameCasparij
Average rating6.22
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Squad number2Player nameNouwen
Average rating6.21
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Squad number8Player nameSpitse
Average rating6.20
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Squad number20Player nameJanssen
Average rating5.91
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Squad number5Player nameWilms
Average rating5.87
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Squad number6Player nameRoord
Average rating5.81
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Squad number7Player nameBeerensteyn
Average rating5.50
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Squad number11Player nameMartens
Average rating4.85
Line-ups
Switzerland
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Thalmann
- 5Maritz
- 18Calligaris
- 15BühlerSubstituted forKiwicat 57′minutes
- 19AigbogunSubstituted forStierliat 58′minutes
- 13WältiSubstituted forMauronat 83′minutes
- 9Crnogorcevic
- 8MaendlySubstituted forFolmliat 58′minutes
- 11SowSubstituted forXhemailiat 72′minutes
- 6Reuteler
- 10Bachmann
Substitutes
- 2Stierli
- 3Marti
- 4Rinast
- 7Xhemaili
- 12Peng
- 14Kiwic
- 16Mauron
- 17Folmli
- 20Humm
- 21Friedli
- 22Riesen
- 23Terchoun
Netherlands
Formation 4-3-3
- 16van Domselaar
- 5Wilms
- 3van der Gragt
- 2NouwenSubstituted forCasparijat 64′minutes
- 20Janssen
- 14Groenen
- 6RoordSubstituted forPelovaat 64′minutes
- 8Spitse
- 10van de DonkSubstituted forEgurrolaat 90+6′minutes
- 7BeerensteynSubstituted forLeuchterat 74′minutes
- 11MartensSubstituted forBrugtsat 74′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Weimar
- 4van Dongen
- 12Pelova
- 13Jansen
- 15Dijkstra
- 17Leuchter
- 18Casparij
- 19Olislagers
- 21Egurrola
- 22Brugts
- 23Lorsheyd
- Referee:
- Iuliana Elena Demetrescu
- Attendance:
- 22,596
Match Stats
Live Text
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Match ends, Switzerland Women 1, Netherlands 4.
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Second Half ends, Switzerland Women 1, Netherlands 4.
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Attempt missed. Sherida Spitse (Netherlands) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Victoria Pelova.
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Offside, Netherlands. Jackie Groenen tries a through ball, but Romée Leuchter is caught offside.
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Attempt saved. Stefanie van der Gragt (Netherlands) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jackie Groenen.
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Substitution, Netherlands. Damaris Egurrola replaces Daniëlle van de Donk.
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Goal! Switzerland Women 1, Netherlands 4. Romée Leuchter (Netherlands) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Victoria Pelova.
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Attempt missed. Victoria Pelova (Netherlands) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Esmee Brugts.
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VAR Decision: Goal Switzerland Women 1-3 Netherlands (Victoria Pelova).
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Goal! Switzerland Women 1, Netherlands 3. Victoria Pelova (Netherlands) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.
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Sherida Spitse (Netherlands) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Svenja Folmli (Switzerland Women).
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Attempt saved. Esmee Brugts (Netherlands) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Victoria Pelova.
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Goal! Switzerland Women 1, Netherlands 2. Romée Leuchter (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Lynn Wilms with a cross.
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Substitution, Switzerland Women. Sandrine Mauron replaces Lia Wälti because of an injury.
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Attempt saved. Victoria Pelova (Netherlands) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jackie Groenen.
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Corner, Switzerland Women. Conceded by Daphne van Domselaar.
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Attempt saved. Riola Xhemaili (Switzerland Women) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Svenja Folmli.
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Offside, Netherlands. Sherida Spitse tries a through ball, but Romée Leuchter is caught offside.
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Foul by Esmee Brugts (Netherlands).