Miedema hits 100th Netherlands goal to upset Wales’ grand debut at Euro 2025

Sometimes the journey truly is more idyllic than the destination. For the Wales women's national team, their much-anticipated debut at Euro 2025 was preceded by a thoroughly enjoyable and historic qualification campaign, a path paved with firsts and burgeoning optimism. However, the moment they stepped onto the hallowed turf for their inaugural major tournament fixture, the dream collided head-on with a formidable reality: the Netherlands, former European champions from 2017. What followed was a bruising, battering, and ultimately bewildering initiation into elite continental competition, a stark reminder of the chasm between qualifying ambition and tournament-level execution.

In the picturesque shadow of Lucerne’s majestic Mount Pilatus, the Dutch delivered a masterclass in efficiency and precision. The encounter, while a harsh lesson for the Dragons, served as a celebratory stage for one of women’s football’s true icons. Vivianne Miedema, already a legend in her own right, etched another indelible mark in the history books, netting her 100th international goal for the Netherlands. It was a landmark strike that not only underscored her enduring brilliance but also served as the decisive blow in dismantling Wales’ grand debut, leaving them chasing shadows for much of the instructive ninety minutes against a relentless Oranje side.

While the spotlight inevitably shone on Miedema’s century, the collective performance of Andries Jonker’s Oranje Lionesses sent a clear message to the rest of Group D. Widely tipped to be a two-horse race between European giants England and France for the top spots, the Netherlands demonstrated a cohesive, incisive, and utterly relentless display that suggests any such assumptions would be profoundly unwise. Their tactical discipline and attacking prowess indicate they are far from content with merely making up the numbers, positioning themselves as genuine contenders for progression and perhaps even deeper tournament success. For Wales, this opening fixture was a sobering education, yet one from which they must rapidly learn if their Euro 2025 journey is to extend beyond the group stages.