The Zambia Women’s national team will this afternoon start their campaign at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics with a gigantic clash against 2019 Women’s World Cup runners-up, The Netherlands.
Coach Bruce Mwape and his team will be looking to start their outing on a positive note but face a mammoth task against the fourth highest-ranked team in the World, The Orange Lionesses.
The ZamFoot Crew now takes a look at how the Netherlands may line up this afternoon.
The Netherlands will be without their most experienced player and captain Sherida Spitse who has to miss the Olympic football tournament.
The 31-year-old Ajax midfielder suffered a knee injury during training yesterday, which means that she will not be available for selection for the coach Sarina Wiegman tutored side.
Arsenal forward Vivianne Miedema, who is the record goalscorer in the English Women’s Super League (WSL) with 59 and is coming off yet another impressive season with the London club, bagging 18 goals and five assists in just 22 games will lead the attack.
The 25-year-old is also the Orange Lionesses’ all-time top goalscorer with 73 goals to her name.
Miedema is expected to be supported by 2020/21 UEFA Women’s Champions League winner with Barcelona, Lieke Martens on the left wing, and Jill Roord on the right wing in a 4-3-3 formation.
2019 World Cup golden glove winner Sari Van Veenendaal is expected to start between the sticks with Dominique Janssen at left-back, Stefanie Van der Gragt, and Aniek Nouwen partnering in central defense, and FC Twente forward Cisca Folkertsma as a makeshift right-back.
Manchester United’s midfield maestro Jackie Groenen is expected to partner Daniëlle van de Donk and Shanice van de Sanden in midfield.
The match will kick off at 13:00hrs at the Miyagi Stadium and will be live on Supersport’s Laliga Channel.
Netherlands Women possible starting lineup:
Sari Van Veenendaal; Dominique Janssen, Stefanie Van der Gragt, Aniek Nouwen, Cisca Folkertsma; Jackie Groenen, Daniëlle van de Donk, Shanice van de Sanden, Vivianne Miedema, Lieke Martens, Jill Roord.
Copper bullets all the best it’s not easy but tough n tougher…