Dutch Football - Women - European Championships - Dutch women draw Finland, Ukraine and Denmark

"The intellectualisation
of football has
always foundered
on a simple problem-
-the players. Doing
all your most
rewarding thinking
with your feet seems
to dull the philo-
sophical impulse.
Unless, of course,
you are Dutch.
According to legend,
Europeans played
a moronic, muscular
version of the world's
game, until Holland
proclaimed its vision
of total football in the
1974 World Cup,
and enlightenment
dawned."

From:
Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Football

Dutch women draw Finland, Ukraine and Denmark

Tuesday 18 November 2008

The Dutch national women's team will play against Ukraine, Denmark and the host nation Finland at next summer's European Championships.

The draw for the tournament was performed today in Helsinki where Holland were drawn into group A.

It will be the first time Holland play a final of a European Championship.

The team of bondscoach Vera Pauw qualified by beating Spain in the play-offs.

Oranje won both games with 2-0.

Holland start the tournament 23 August in Turku against Ukraine, three days later they will face Finland in Helsinki.

They will play the last group game in Lahti on 29 August.

"This is a draw that offers some chances," Pauw said in a first reaction.

Also read: Pauw proud of Netherlands feat