Netherlands 4-3-3 (Van Veenendal – Van Lunteren, Dekker, Bloodworth, Van Dongen – Groenen, Spitse, Van de Donk – Van de Sanden, Miedema, Martens)

Canada 4-4-1-1 (Labbe – Lawrence, Buchanan, Zadorsky, Chapman – Huitema, Scott, Schmidt, Beckie – Fleming – Sinclair)

Canada essentially copied New Zealand’s defensive approach against the Netherlands here, setting up in a 4-4-1-1 shape that saw Fleming support Sinclair up front in pressing the opposition centre-backs whilst also blocking off the pass into Spitse. Unable to find their defensive midfield playmaker, the Dutch would then go out to the full-backs, who would be closed down by Canada’s wingers. Huitema and Beckie made sure to first narrow the space between themselves and central midfielders Schmidt and Scott, meaning the Dutch centre-backs couldn’t find Groenen and Van de Donk.

Unable to pass forward to Spitse and with a combination of huge distances between and Canada’s wingers’ defensive positioning, the Netherlands’ centre-backs often passed out to the full-backs, who were then closed down quickly. With no real passing options available, the only option was to go backwards, and Canada capitalised on a few misplaced sideways and backwards passes along the defensive line by the Dutch.

The Netherlands had some success playing more directly. Both of their wingers offensively kept high and wide positions to draw out the Canada full-backs and offer a couple of options. Either they could be found with balls over the top of the full-back, or they could look to get on through balls in the channels between Canada’s centre-backs and full-backs. Van de Sanden on the right was constantly involved in these moves, though Chapman defended her well.

Canada’s defensive approach worked well, though during the game it did adapt slightly, as Fleming dropped deeper and essentially marked Spitse while Sinclair pressured the Dutch centre-backs alone. The Netherlands were not quite so effective defensively, though they did ratchet up the pressure on the ball in the second half, with their near-sided No.8 pushing up to close down the receiving Canada central midfielder, making it less easy for Canada to establish possession through their centre-backs and central midfielders around a passive and significantly outnumbered Miedema.

Nonetheless, Canada’s attacking play worked well. Their wingers both looked to come inside and create extra passing lanes to penetrate the Dutch midfield line, while their full-backs overlapped down the flanks. With the Dutch full-backs drawn in by Beckie and Huitema, the onus was on Van de Sanden and Martens to drop deep and defend – something neither is particularly adept at, and something that takes both further away from the opposition half where they do their damage.

Canada looked tactically more ‘joined up’, but the Netherlands were more clinical in the final third. Miedema dropped off the front line to receive and lay off, offering a method of getting Groenen and Van de Donk on the ball, while their front three as a whole were tricky and direct when they got into dangerous areas.