Netherlands beats South Africa 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup

BY JAMES ROBSON

Netherlands had just advanced to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup, yet star midfielder Danielle van de Donk looked inconsolable.

Her yellow card in the second half of the 2-0 win over South Africa on Sunday means she will serve a one-match suspension. Her tears were likely in realization that she may have played her final match of the tournament if the Dutch lost to Spain in the quarterfinals.

But Netherlands coach Andries Jonker had no time for any negativity.

“We’ve come with the conviction that we can beat everybody. And if you say we can beat everybody, it includes all teams, South Africa, but also Spain,” he said. “So it means it’s not the last game for Danielle. We want to beat Spain, then she can come back into the tournament.”

The Dutch certainly appear to be contenders again after losing to the United States