Report: Historic Miedema strike helps Dutch down Wales | OneFootball

Vivianne Miedema’s 100th international goal set the Netherlands on their way to a dominant 3-0 win over Wales in their Euro 2025 Group C opener.

Her strike – an exquisite curling effort - was a goal worthy of reaching such a significant milestone and set a Holland side also containing Kerstin Casparij on their way to victory.

The first match of Group D saw tournament debutants face a side expected to go deep in the competition, and the Netherlands were understandably in control from the early exchanges.

A vicious curling effort from former City midfielder Jill Roord almost yielded the opener inside five minutes, with Olivia Clark making the save before Wales bundled clear after a brief scramble on the goal line.

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The Welsh continued to hold firm, keeping Dutch chances to a premium in the Swiss heat.

Kerstin Casparij threatened to change that when she raced in down the right, but her ball across to Miedema fell just outside the forward’s reach as the half-hour mark approached.

The Netherlands were now starting to turn the screw, with Roord striking the post with a powerful drive from distance a few minutes later.

And the deadlock would be broken in first half stoppage time, seeing Miedema make history with a world class finish from distance.

The forward picked up play on the edge of the Wales box, faked back onto her right foot and whipped an unstoppable drive into the far corner with trademark panache.

A second would follow early in the second half, with Victoria Pelova finding space in the box before firing across goal to double the advantage.

It could’ve been three inside seven second half minutes when Miedema rolled away from her marker and released Roord in behind, only for the midfielder to once again find the woodwork.

The Dutch were beginning to run riot, with Jackie Groenen the next player to hit the bar with an audacious effort from distance, only for Esme Brugts to then tap home at the far post in the resultant passage of play to add a third.

Casparij was withdrawn soon after, with Miedema also replaced with 20 to play as Andries Jonker looked to rotate his squad ahead of their Group D clashes with England and France.

Miedema's replacement Lineth Beerensteyn twice looked like she could make it four, finding the side netting from a promising position before having a smart finish ruled out for offside.

Wales continued to fight until the end, with Dutch winger Chastity Grant seeing an effort cleared off the line with stoppage time approaching.

But it was the Netherlands who laid down a marker for England and France ahead of their Group D showdown later that evening.

Casparij, Miedema and co. face reigning European champions England in a blockbuster tie next Wednesday at 17:00 (UK), before locking horns with the French on Sunday 13 July at 20:00.