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The World Cup has reached its fifth day of action, with a number of massive teams in action. But a cheating storm has erupted after the Netherlands’ head coach was caught on camera appearing to tell a player to fake injury in their opening cup match.
Holland, ranked ninth in the world, beat Cup debutants Portugal 1-0 on Sunday in Dunedin. The Dutch heavyweights were far from their best, leaving coach Andries Jonker full of headaches ahead of his team’s blockbuster Group E clash with two-time reigning champions USA.
That match, which will be played on Thursday night, is a rematch of the 2019 World Cup final.
But Jonker has ignited controversy after appearing to tell midfield superstar Danielle van de Donk to “sit down” – seemingly to fign injury so the coach could give instructions to his players while van de Donk received treatment.
Jonker repeatedly says “Go sit down, sit down.”
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Hilariously, Champions League winner van de Donk told him that teammate Daphne van Domselaar should instead be the player to fake an injury, saying: “Daphne could do it.”
But van de Donk eventually listened to her coach and sat down, claiming a calf injury. The match was paused as she received attention from medical staff – giving Jonker the chance to speak to his other players.
Van de Donk plays for French giants Lyon alongside Australian partner Ellie Carpenter, who is currently competing in the World Cup with the Matildas.
Defender Stefanie van der Gragt scored the only goal for Netherlands in the win.
ENGLAND LEGEND’S BIG TATTOO CALL
England icon Jill Scott is backing the reigning European champions to go all the way and win a maiden World Cup.
36-year-old Scott retired after leading the Lionesses to glory at Euro 2022, beating Germany 2-1 in the final in front of a staggering 87,192 fans at Wembley
But a highlight from that match was Scott blowing up deluxe at Germany’s Syndey Lohmann after a tackle.
Scott burst to her feet and roared: “F*** off you f***ing p****.”
The incident was caught on camera and quickly went viral.
Now Scott says she’ll get a tattoo of that quote should her England ex-teammates win the World Cup.
Scott said on her BBC podcast ‘Jill Scott’s Coffee Club’: “I’m going to make a pact now live on the podcast, OK?
“I don’t know if I should be doing this, I’ve had a few coffees today.
“But when England win the World Cup, I will get FOYFP tattooed on me.”
England were far from convincing against minnows Haiti in their World Cup opener, but got the job done 1-0. They next face Denmark on Friday night.
Scott, who played over 150 games for the national team and will go down as one of their greatest players of the modern era, was renowned for being a fierce (but usually calm) competitor.
Little wonder her sweary outburst against Germany went viral.
Scott told talkSPORT after the incident: “Keira Walsh said I came on the pitch and was like ‘everyone calm down, keep your head, we’ve got a job to do for extra time’ and then obviously that went viral, me swearing at her.
“I do apologise for the swearing, I actually hate swearing away from football but once I cross over that white line I feel like I have to be angry and emotional to get my performance out of me.
“She did swear at me first but the camera was the other way but I do apologise.”
Today’s Women’s World Cup schedule (AEST)
4pm: Italy v Argentina in Auckland/Tāmaki Makaurau
6.30pm: Germany v Morocco in Melbourne/Naarm
9pm: Brazil v Panama in Adelaide/Tarntanya
RESULTS: Every Women’s World Cup result and full group standings
DAY FOUR WRAP: Superstar sent off in wild scenes as Jamaica secure first-ever point
TALKING POINTS: Kerr truth brave Matildas can’t deny; glaring World Cup question emphatically answered
‘NOT ABOUT ME’: Brave Kerr’s selfless act revealed as teammates react to big blow
