'A few things were disrespectful' - Carla Ward disappointed by Dutch approach
DUTCH DISRESPECT: Republic of Ireland head coach Carla Ward and Netherland's head coach Arjan Veurink before the Women’s World Cup Qualifier. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
THAT traditional Cork welcome visitors cherish may not apply to the Dutch in June amid the fallout from Ireland’s defeat in Utrecht on Saturday.
Netherlands shaded this second series in the World Cup qualifiers thanks to a late winner eight minutes from the end but for the rematch at Pairc Uí Chaoimh they’ll meet a determined Irish irked at being disrespected.
It began with the decision to use the occasion for honouring 116 famous former players.
No problem with the gesture but the timing – at the end of the match rather than beforehand or half-time – smacked of a presumptive outcome.
Had Ireland held out to replicate their feat of holding the then Euro champions nine years ago, it would have been interesting if a fan exodus preceded the ceremony.
Carla Ward was expecting a question about the celebratory spectacle and didn’t baulk at it.
“I thought a few things were disrespectful in the last couple of days, but we'll go about our business,” said the Ireland manager.
Although she was unwilling to elaborate, it’s understood the friction originated from the watering of the pitch. The Irish arrived at Stadion Galgenwaard to find the surface drenched.
“The away team preferred for the pitch not to be watered but it is up to the home team to present the pitch watering plan,” said the Dutch FA in response.
“The call was made to do no extra pitch watering, besides the one prior to warming up, as was presented in the matchday meeting.”
It didn’t go unnoticed that some of the Dutch players began to chat during the usual silence of the national anthem.
Nor that Arjan Veurink disappeared into a huddle with his staff at full-time when the customary handshakes between managers and staff occured.
“As you've seen there were a lot of former international players on the pitch at the end,” he said with an unintended hint of irony about another bone of contention.
“I spoke with Carla for 20 minutes before the game. I shook her hand before the game so absolutely nothing happened afterwards.”
This was Veurink’s first competitive home game in charge since departing his post as assistant at the Euro champions to become the main man in his homeland.
Pressure on the newcomer after four friendlies cranked up last Tuesday when they were held 2-2 by Poland.
His frustration at Ireland’s tactics, especially goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan slumping to the turf in each half to facilitate a sideline huddle, was evident by his body language and gestures.
"I would applaud them if they did something about that,” he said about the prospects of rules being updated to outlaw this growing practice. “It often takes away from the pace of the game."
The 39-year-old presents himself as a chirpy character, but the scrutiny crept into nervousness within their performance. Veurink was miffed that his predecessor Andries Jonker, allegedly removed on foot of selective complaints to Dutch FA technical director Nigel de Jong by a couple of senior players, was nearby as a television pundit.
"Remarkable," he scoffed. "I wouldn't have made that decision myself."
A decision he was in control of was ditching the total Dutch football in pursuit of three points essential to stay on the coattails of France in the group.
"Playing beautiful football doesn't count anymore," he cautioned. “You must ensure we get the points. And we did that well."
Gradually and eventually are probably more appropriate adjectives.
The Dutch vulnerability from set-pieces so evident in Gdansk four days earlier remained, and they were fortunate not to concede from Caitlin Hayes’ early header that was cleared off the line by Lynn Wilms.
Within their ranks were players from Chelsea, Lyon and Barcelona but the one current member of the European and world club champions, Katie McCabe, made the most indelible mark on proceedings.
She sourced the corners and free-kicks that caused havoc. Her converted penalty five minutes into the second half cancelled out Lineth Beerensteyn’s 12th minute opener but Ireland themselves were undone from a set-piece as Brosnan’s flap allowed the Wolfsburg striker to bundle the ball home from a yard.
“We pride ourselves on defending set pieces, but we take it together,” noted Ward. “The difficulty is that Courtney didn’t have much to do all night.”
Statistics support that view. Ireland produced a similar volume of goalmouth action, albeit in a different manner to their hosts.
Before the Dutch sequel on June 5 by the Lee, Ireland must have points accrued from their April double-header against Poland. A red card for Nadia Krezyman with the game in the balance was a turning point in their 4-1 loss to France on Saturday.
Ewa Pajor scored again for the Poles, but the Barcelona attacker won’t be the only world-class player on the Gdansk pitch on April 14. Injured star Denise O’Sullivan jetted into Utrecht for Saturday's game, brimming with an upbeat assessment from her specialist 24 hours earlier.
“Denise will be back for Poland – it was positive news,” revealed Ward.
Thoughts of confronting the Grudge Dutch match can wait until afterwards.
L Kop; L Wilms, D Janssen, V Buurman, M Olislagers; D Egurrola, W Kaptein (D VD Donk 66); J Roord (E Brugts 65), V Miedema (C Grant 90+1), L Beerensteyn; R Leuchter (J Groenen 65).
C Brosnan; A Patten, C Hayes, C Mustaki, A Mannion, M Connolly, M Sheva (S Noonan 90+2), K McCabe; L Quinn (A Barrett 66), E Murphy; K Carusa (A Larkin 84).
Frida Klarlund (DEN).
13,000 (est).
Ireland 1-2 France, Tallaght Stadium.
Netherlands 2-1 Ireland, Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht.
Poland v Ireland, Polsat Plus Arena, Gdańsk.
Ireland v Poland, Venue, Aviva Stadium.
Ireland v Netherlands, Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
France v Ireland, Stade des Alpes, Grenoble.
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