France boss Corinne Diacre says her side “are here to build history” after overcoming defending champions the Netherlands in extra time to reach the semi-final of the Euros for the first time.
Eve Perisset finally broke the deadlock for Les Bleus from the spot in the 102nd minute to set up a last-four meeting with Germany in Milton Keynes on Wednesday.
That came after Kadidiatou Diani was fouled by Dominique Janssen inside the box, a decision given after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor.
The Dutch had somehow repelled wave after wave of French attack as goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar produced one of the tournament’s standout solo displays, though she could not get a strong enough hand on Perisset’s spot-kick.
Star forward Vivianne Miedema missed a rare chance of her own for the Netherlands but it was always France who looked more threatening and Grace Geyoro headed a glorious opportunity wide in the final moments of normal time.
“We have been rewarded for our effort,” said Diacre. “We are here to build history – the players and staff want to make history for ourselves and there is still a bit of a way to go.
“This group is doing well, we have a semi-final to prepare for now, calmly, we will savour this moment and getting through and we are taking it step by step as always.
“We have reached a new level but that is not the end for us, we really want to reach the final. This squad wants to achieve something together, and that is our strength.”
France end quarter-final hoodoo
This was the third-best side in the world against the one ranked fourth, but for long periods the gulf in class seemed a lot wider as France dominated a match in which they racked up 33 efforts on goal.
Diacre said beforehand they would approach this encounter “with a sledgehammer” and that was how it appeared as they battered on the Dutch door from the off.
Chance after chance came and went after the dangerous Kadidiatou Diani first burst down the right during a swift counter attack only to be denied by Van Domselaar, something that would become a recurring theme.
The Dutch goalkeeper made another two saves in quick succession, first flinging herself through the air to tip away from her own defender Janssen’s sliced clearance and then to deny Charlotte Bilbault from distance.
And when Van Domselaar could not thwart the French, defender Stefanie van der Gragt stepped up to do so – she turned Melvine Malard’s effort off the line with her knees as somehow the Dutch clung on, and then foiled Geyoro moments later with another last-ditch clearance.
Van Domselaar continued to produce her shot-stopping heroics by palming away efforts from substitute Selma Bach and Wendie Renard after the break, also denying the latter with a finger-tip save in the final minutes of normal time.
The crucial moment eventually came in extra time, when Janssen caught Diani in a hopeful lunge that was not initially picked up by Ivana Martincic and instead flagged by the assistant referee.
France have fallen at the quarter-final hurdle in their past three Euros, but Perisset’s penalty was enough to break that run and send them into a semi-final with Germany.
Netherlands lack cutting edge
The Netherlands won this tournament under the guidance of Sarina Wiegman in 2017, reaching the World Cup final two years later, but current boss Mark Parsons said before the competition his evolving side are a work in progress.
Their hopes were boosted before the quarter-final by the return of Arsenal forward Miedema after a bout of Co, but the 26-year-old cut an isolated figure for long spells as the Netherlands were forced to soak up pressure.
Miedema’s one chance came in the first half from a corner, volleying over unmarked inside the box, and she struggled to shake off the attention of France centre-back Renard, who was impressive throughout.
When they did manage to eke out periods of possession the cutting edge was not there, and despite a valiant defensive effort and Van Domselaar’s tournament-high 11 saves, their reign as European champions is over.
“I am unbelievably proud of the players and the staff, you saw the players give everything. There is not a player with an ounce of energy left,” said Parsons.
“For us, continuing to build this special group that is forming, the future is bright, and I wish we could have shown that a bit more in this tournament – that wasn’t meant to be.”
Player of the match
van DomselaarDaphne van Domselaar
France
Squad number20Player nameCascarino
Squad number13Player nameBacha
Squad number7Player nameKarchaoui
Squad number11Player nameDiani
Squad number3Player nameRenard
Squad number10Player nameMatéo
Squad number6Player nameToletti
Squad number22Player namePérisset
Squad number19Player nameMbock Bathy
Squad number12Player nameMalard
Squad number14Player nameBilbault
Squad number21Player namePeyraud-Magnin
Squad number8Player nameGeyoro
Squad number18Player nameSarr
Squad number2Player namePalis
Squad number4Player nameTorrent
Netherlands
Squad number16Player namevan Domselaar
Squad number3Player namevan der Gragt
Squad number14Player nameGroenen
Squad number6Player nameRoord
Squad number22Player nameBrugts
Squad number10Player namevan de Donk
Squad number5Player nameWilms
Squad number18Player nameCasparij
Squad number8Player nameSpitse
Squad number12Player namePelova
Squad number21Player nameEgurrola
Squad number20Player nameJanssen
Squad number17Player nameLeuchter
Squad number2Player nameNouwen
Squad number9Player nameMiedema
Squad number7Player nameBeerensteyn
Line-upsFrance
Formation 4-3-3
21Peyraud-Magnin
22Périsset19Mbock Bathy3Renard7Karchaoui
14Bilbault6Toletti8Geyoro
11Diani12Malard20Cascarino
21Peyraud-Magnin22PérissetSubstituted forTorrentat 105’minutes19Mbock Bathy3Renard7Karchaoui14Bilbault6TolettiSubstituted forPalisat 105’minutes8GeyoroSubstituted forMatéoat 88’minutes11DianiSubstituted forSarrat 105’minutes12MalardSubstituted forBachaat 62’minutes20CascarinoSubstitutes1Chavas2Palis4Torrent5Tounkara10Matéo13Bacha15Dali16Lerond17Baltimore18Sarr23CissokoNetherlands
Formation 4-3-3
16van Domselaar
5Wilms3van der Gragt20Janssen18Casparij
14Groenen8Spitse10van de Donk
7Beerensteyn9Miedema12Pelova
16van Domselaar5WilmsSubstituted forEgurrolaat 115’minutes3van der GragtBooked at 72mins20JanssenBooked at 101mins18CasparijSubstituted forNouwenat 105’minutes14Groenen8SpitseSubstituted forLeuchterat 105’minutes10van de DonkSubstituted forBrugtsat 72’minutes7BeerensteynSubstituted forRoordat 45’minutes9MiedemaBooked at 103mins12PelovaSubstitutes1Weimar2Nouwen4van Dongen6Roord13Jansen15Dijkstra17Leuchter19Olislagers21Egurrola22Brugts23Lorsheyd
Referee:Ivana Martincic
Attendance:9,764Live Text
Match ends, France 1, Netherlands 0.
Second Half Extra Time ends, France 1, Netherlands 0.
Attempt blocked. Vivianne Miedema (Netherlands) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Foul by Ouleymata Sarr (France).
Victoria Pelova (Netherlands) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt missed. Stefanie van der Gragt (Netherlands) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Victoria Pelova with a cross.
Wendie Renard (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Romée Leuchter (Netherlands).
Offside, France. Delphine Cascarino tries a through ball, but Clara Matéo is caught offside.
Attempt missed. Clara Matéo (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Ouleymata Sarr.
Substitution, Netherlands. Damaris Egurrola replaces Lynn Wilms because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Marion Torrent (France) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Delphine Cascarino.
Sakina Karchaoui (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Victoria Pelova (Netherlands).
Attempt missed. Ouleymata Sarr (France) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Clara Matéo.
Attempt missed. Ouleymata Sarr (France) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Clara Matéo.
Attempt blocked. Victoria Pelova (Netherlands) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Romée Leuchter.
Substitution, France. Ella Palis replaces Sandie Toletti.
Substitution, France. Ouleymata Sarr replaces Kadidiatou Diani.
Substitution, France. Marion Torrent replaces Ève Périsset.