Netherlands head coach Mark Parsons believes England are favourites for the Women's Euro 2022 after seeing his team well beaten by the Lionesses on Friday.
England ran out 5-1 winners at Elland Road, with goals from Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead (two), Ella Toone and Lauren Hemp sealing an emphatic victory.
England's previous meeting with the Oranje was a 3-0 reverse in the Euro 2017 semi-finals, though the Lionesses maintained their record of having never lost back-to-back games against the Netherlands.
Sarina Wiegman was managing the Dutch side that day as they went on to win their home tournament, and now has the chance to do the same with England.
Speaking after the game, Parsons expressed his admiration for England, pointing to their home advantage and resources.
"This is our third top opponent we've faced," he said. "Brazil, we felt we should have won, France, we weren't good and didn't deserve to draw or win.
"Tonight, I think England will be favourites in the Euros where they're at, the qualities of players, the home crowd, the resources that the WSL have been putting in, the work the clubs have been doing. You add all that up, it's very hard to see that they're not favourites."
Netherlands will be in Group C at Euro 2022 along with Sweden, Portugal and Switzerland, starting off against the Swedes at Bramall Lane on July 9.
"Very difficult evening. I think the one thing we wanted to avoid by taking on such a big game, big opponent early in our preparation, was this outcome" Parsons admitted, before suggesting that England's extra preparation time after the end of their season played a big part.
"If we had avoided this outcome, I think we will only be taking positives. I feel a big responsibility because I knew how big of a step this would be.
"Also, I was aware of the English league finishing May 11. They got their holiday, they got in two weeks before us that they would be in this place, but was aggressive and ambitious in having the game when it was, hoped that we'd be in a controlled position at 60 minutes because the minds probably would have carried the bodies at that point."
The contest had been relatively even in the first half, with the score still 1-1 until the 53rd minute when Mead grabbed her first of the night.
Three more goals in the last 18 minutes gave the game a scoreline that had not seemed likely at the break, and Parsons took some solace in that, while taking some of the blame himself.
He added: "Some of the great decision-making we had in the first half had gone [in the second], so it's going to feel like two games. Analysing the first 55, 60 minutes and throwing the last 30, 35 minutes in the bin very quickly because I don't think there'll be anything worth taking from that due to the level where we're at physically, which is normal, but the organisation didn't help the players at that point.
"When the [final] whistle went, I knew I was going to be analysing a shorter game... There'd be no point in looking any further because I let them down. At that point, the organisation should have been a lot safer, more defensive, because the legs had gone and England were just getting fresher and fresher with their changes.
"With the home crowd, we felt it once or twice in the first half. In the second half it was the flags and the noise coming from the home crowd, which is an experience we needed to learn. Yeah. Tough night."
Montego Bay United, Arnett Gardens, Mount Pleasant secure wins to open 2024-25 Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League
Montego Bay United FC, Arnett Gardens FC and Mount Pleasant Academy all secured wins on Sunday’s first day of the 2024-25 Wray and Nephew Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season.
Four-time champions Montego Bay United were the biggest winners of the opening week, securing a 4-1 victory over Vere Phoenix United FC at the Wembley Centre of Excellence, their first opening game win since they joined Jamaica’s top football league 13 years ago.
MBU took the lead in the seventh minute through newcomer Jordan Britto before Vere got on level terms four minutes later through Damion Thomas.
That score held through the rest of the first half but the second half was all Montego Bay United as Brian Brown, captain Owayne Gordon and Shaniel Thomas all scored within 15 minutes of each other to complete the 4-1 score line.
At the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, a Warner Brown double in the ninth and 10th minutes and a 55th minute goal from Kimani Arbouine gave Arnett Gardens a 3-0 win over Dunbeholden FC.
Last season’s beaten finalists, Mount Pleasant Academy, opened their season with a 2-0 win over Portmore United at Ferdie Neita Park.
The goals for the Theodore Whitmore-led unit came from Sue-Lae McCalla in the 27th minute and Shaquille Bradford in first half stoppage time.
Real Madrid handed injury boosts ahead of Champions League opener
Carlo Ancelotti expects to have several players back from injury in time for Real Madrid's Champions League opener against Stuttgart on Tuesday.
Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eder Militao are set to be available for the match at the Santiago Bernabeu, despite the Brazilian missing training as he required an extra day to recover fully.
Madrid won their record-extending 15th Champions League title last season, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final to get their hands on the trophy.
Los Blancos were a force to be reckoned with in the competition last year, and were only behind for 7% of their total match time in the Champions League last season; the lowest percentage of any team.
Former mainstays Nacho, Joselu and the now-retired Toni Kroos are no longer part of the squad, and Madrid will also be without Eduardo Camavinga through injury.
However, Ancelotti said he was excited to start their title defence with "the best player in the world" Kylian Mbappe.
"Yes, we lost Nacho and Kroos, two of our most important players. And Joselu. In exchange, one of the best players in the world is coming. Do we have a better squad than last year? I think so," Ancelotti told reporters on Monday.
Meanwhile, it was Carvajal, who scored the opening goal in their triumph over Dortmund, who confirmed Bellingham's involvement, noting his importance to the side.
"Jude's return is fantastic news for us. We know what he contributes with and without the ball," defender Dani Carvajal said.
"We demand much more from ourselves and tomorrow is a new opportunity to continue growing."
All three European club competitions have been expanded to 36 teams this season and Ancelotti's side will also be taking part in the expanded men's 32-team Club World Cup, starting next June in the United States.
Forward Brahim Diaz was the latest player to be sidelined in a slew of injuries, and Ancelotti said their gruelling schedule was to blame.
"The calendar is too demanding. A new competition is coming, and we don't know how it will turn out," he added.
"It may or may not be more entertaining. The fact is that we have two more games in this competition."
The Italian, who has won the Champions League five times as a manager and twice as a player, said the competition holds a place above all else in his heart.
"For me this competition is very special, not only for the club. But it's not just that, it's the day-to-day work to get there," he said.
"The [Champions League] will always be the same even if they change the format a little and [its relation with] Real Madrid, the same. This [year] is going to be another [chance] at history and I hope we can reach the final like last year."
Messi vows to keep fighting for title after stellar Miami return
Lionel Messi is confident that Inter Miami can clinch the title, with a trip to Atlanta United next up for the Eastern Conference leaders.
The Argentine made his long-awaited return from injury in their 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union, having a hand in all three goals as they opened up a 10-point lead over FC Cincinnati in the table.
It was their fifth consecutive win following their heavy 6-1 loss to Cincinnati, and Messi acknowledged how well the team had performed amid some injury troubles this season.
"As we said at the beginning, we know the squad we have, and the title is our goal," he told Apple TV. "We're realistic and take responsibility for it.
"Unfortunately, we've had a lot of bad luck with injuries this year and were never at full strength for one reason or another. We were always missing players, but the team always managed to push through."
On his own return from an ankle problem he sustained playing in the Copa America final, he said: "It was a lot of time off the field. Little by little, I found myself with the group. I felt good, and that's why we decided that I would start. I am very happy."
Meanwhile, Atlanta are down in 10th on 31 points, half of Miami's own points tally, though they did shock the Herons in their last meeting, beating them 3-1 on the road.
They have won just once since the return of MLS action following the Leagues Cup break though – a narrow 1-0 victory over Charlotte FC – and lost last time out at home to Nashville SC.
The Five Stripes were outplayed on Saturday, and midfielder Ajani Fortune has urged his team-mates to show more of a fight when they meet Miami on Wednesday.
"We will change the little things, like the work rate and stuff like that, but we look to keep fighting," he said.
"I think that's the biggest thing we were missing [against Nashville], so once we have that, we'll be in a better spot to perform."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atlanta United – Saba Lobjanidze
Saba Lobjanidze had recorded at least one assist in three consecutive home appearances, but that run came to an end against Nashville.
Indeed, nine of his 12 goal contributions this season have come at home, including all six assists.
Inter Miami – Lionel Messi
Messi was straight back into the action for Miami after an eight-game absence, scoring twice and assisting one against Philadelphia last time out.
He has now netted 27 goals for the Herons, and another brace against Atlanta would draw him level with their all-time leading goalscorers, Gonzalo Higuain and Leonardo Campana.
MATCH PREDICTION: INTER MIAMI WIN
Miami are currently on a five-match winning streak in MLS, scoring 14 goals in that run. They have actually netted in each of their last 14 matches; however, they have struggled for clean sheets, only keeping one in their last 13 games in the competition.
Atlanta have proven a thorn in Miami's side over the years and have won their last two matches against the Herons, including that 3-1 victory at Chase Stadium in May. Indeed, they have only failed to beat Miami in four of their previous meetings (W5 D3).
Atlanta have won only two of their last 11 regular season home matches (D3 L5) dating back to the beginning of April, while they have won just two of their last eight outings in MLS (D1 L5).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta United – 28.6%
Draw – 24.4%
Inter Miami – 47%
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