- Netherlands beat Italy to reach first Women’s Olympic Football Tournament
- Sweden also secured Tokyo 2020 spot after defeating Germany
- The pair join Great Britain in Tokyo after England also reached semi-finals
Netherlands and Sweden have completed the European line-up at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 after setting up a semi-final against each other at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.
The Oranjeleeuwinnen defeated Italy to ensure they would head to a Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for the first time, an accomplishment that coach Sarina Wiegman described as “a dream come true.”
Headed goals by Vivianne Miedema and Stefanie van der Gragt secured the history-making 2-0 victory in Valenciennes.
They were joined by Sweden after they saw off Germany in their own France 2019 quarter-final. The Germans took the lead through Lina Magull, before goals from Sofia Jakobsson and Stina Blackstenius turned the game around for the Blagult, who head back to the Olympic stage after their silver medal last time out at Rio 2016.
The two join Great Britain, who will compete at a Women’s Olympic Football Tournament for only the second time as a unified team of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Great Britain became the first European team to qualify for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020 on Friday, with England securing a top-three finish among UEFA sides at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™.
The Lionesses, nominated to represent Great Britain’s Tokyo 2020 qualification bid at the Women’s World Cup, advanced to the semi-finals in France with a 3-0 win over Norway on 28 June. With the hosts bowing out of the competition to holders USA on 29 June, England guaranteed their place among the three best European finishers.
This will be only the second time a unified team of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales compete in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament. The first time was at London 2012, where they were defeated by Canada in the quarter-finals.
(source: FIFA.com)