Netherlands midfielder Danielle van de Donk says she will consider retiring from international football after the European Championship and confirmed it would be her last major tournament with the national side. Van de Donk, 33, has been capped 170 times by the Netherlands since her debut in 2010 but admitted last year that the 2027 World Cup may be one tournament too far for her. The former Arsenal and OL Lyonnes midfielder, who joined London City Lionesses this summer, was part of the Netherla
Van de Donk, 33, has been capped 170 times by the Netherlands since her debut in 2010 but admitted last year that the 2027 World Cup may be one tournament too far for her.
The former Arsenal and OL Lyonnes midfielder, who joined London City Lionesses this summer, was part of the Netherlands side that won Euro 2017 on home soil before reaching the World Cup final in 2019, but Andries Jonker’s team are reliant on results elsewhere if they are to avoid a group stage exit at Euro 2025.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Netherlands’ final group game against France, Van de Donk was asked if the tournament felt like a final opportunity for a “golden generation” of Dutch players. “I can only speak for myself, yes,” she replied. “For me this is the final opportunity.”
Then questioned if the France game could be her last appearance for the national side, she responded: “I don’t know it yet. It will definitely be my final game at a tournament.
“I will give it some thought after the tournament.”
Van de Donk started the Netherlands’ opening group stage victory over Wales but was reduced to a substitute role during Wednesday’s loss to England. She told reporters after the game she had been struggling with a groin injury in the build up to the fixture but had felt fit to start on the day, with Jonker describing this as a “miscommunication”, given he had already selected his starting XI.
The story made headlines in the Netherlands, but Van de Donk and Jonker both played down its significance
“I had a sore groin during three days and gradually started feeling better and wanted to wait until the match day,” she said. “The day before the match the coach usually announces the starting squad, and this is what happened, I just wasn’t fit enough.”
“It’s because of the headlines you write — I described the way it happened, for me it was quite normal.”
Jonker added: “The line-up was already set, and it’s not customary to walk up to the coach and tell them you can start after all. She didn’t do that either. So it wasn’t an option. The plan had been discussed with the players.”
The Netherlands need England to slip up against Wales on Sunday and get a result of their own against France if they are to progress to the Euro 2025 quarter-final stage.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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