National team coach Anders Juncker has moved on from defender Annick Nouwen in the upcoming UEFA Nations League matches. The Chelsea player did not make enough of an impression during the World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this summer. The international played 43 times in two matches in the tournament.
“Anik has seven or eight weeks to show what she can do,” Juncker points to the 24-year-old Nouwen’s performances in the period surrounding the World Cup. “She has the potential to be excellent, but you have to prove it. I called her and explained what was wrong with her. She will work on it. The door is wide open and I have every confidence.” Juncker did not want to provide more details about the defender’s shortcomings.
Nuyen came on for the injured Stephanie van der Gragt midway through their World Cup group match with the United States. I stopped playing football after the World Cup, leaving a place available at centre-back. Juncker does not yet know how he will compensate for the loss of the veteran. “There is no such type in the Netherlands, so we have to interpret it differently.” Midfielder Damaris Igurrola has played in this position before and is Juncker’s option.
