Euro 2025: Netherlands sparked by Miedema's 100th goal beats Wales

LUCERNE, Switzerland (AP) — Netherlands great Vivianne Miedema’s 100th goal in international soccer was key to a 3-0 win over debut-making Wales at the Women’s European Championship on Saturday.

After Miedema’s injury-hit season, no one expected the all-time Dutch record goal-scorer to complete its opening game in the toughest of groups.

Those 70 minutes of Miedema were more than enough in a dominant win that gave Wales a tough lesson in its entry to major women's tournament soccer.

The result and performance suggested the Euro 2017 champion — and 2019 World Cup finalist — was up to advancing from Group D. France won 2-1 against England, the defending champion, in the late game Saturday.

Miedema made her historic mark scoring with a delightful curling shot in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

“Special, very special,” Miedema told Dutch broadcaster NOS about the mark she eventually reached at age 28 after three years blighted by injury. Her 95th was scored in 2022.

The skill she showed to create the chance, by twice deceiving a defender when faking to strike the ball, seemed unlikely to that point. Miedema’s first touch had been heavy in the penalty area and she seemed to lack match fitness after so little game time at Manchester City this season because of knee and hamstring injuries.

The Dutch were relentless in the second half, adding goals in the 48th by Victoria Pelova and the 57th by wing back Esmee Brugts.

It could have been more. The Wales crossbar was struck twice between the second and third goals by shots from Jill Roord and Jackie Groenen. Roord also struck a post with a first-half shot.

“This was a fantastic performance from the Dutch," Wales coach Rhian Wilkinson said. "We have to make sure that those moments of lapses get fewer and fewer.”

Miedema’s exit let another recently injured star forward, Lineth Beerensteyn, return to action and the winger quickly looked dangerous.

Wales midfielder Jess Fishlock and Angharad James, who both play for Seattle Reign, made their tournament debuts in their 163rd and 133rd national team games, respectively.

“We have got to get used to this real fast,” Fishlock told the BBC, citing “lapses of concentration and focus” for the timing of conceding goals so close around the break.

Wales captain James said first-game nerves could explain that “we looked a little bit sluggish. We’ll be disappointed with the result but I can’t ask any more of this group.”

The Swiss heatwave during Euro 2025 cooled a little to 81 degrees (27 C) for the 6 p.m. local time start in Lucerne. It still had an effect on Miedema.

"I told you already that I can’t deal with the heat,” she said in comments reported by UEFA. “I eventually started growing a bit (into the game).”

Wilkinson said the “really hot time in Switzerland” was new to the Wales players” “It’s not an excuse, we have got to figure it out.”

The Netherlands next plays on Wednesday in Zurich against England, in a reunion with their former coach Sarina Wiegman.

Wiegman, who played 99 times for the Dutch, went on to coach her home country to that European title in 2017 and the 2019 World Cup final loss to the United States. Miedema, Groenen and Daniëlle van de Donk were starters in those teams and on Saturday against Wales.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Netherlands' Esmee Brugts, top, clears the ball over Wales' Jess Fishlock during the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Netherlands players celebrate with their fans at the end of the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Netherlands supporters head to the stadium for the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Netherlands' Esmee Brugts, center, scores her side's third goal during the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Netherlands' Esmee Brugts, right, celebrates after scoring her side's third goal during the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Netherlands' Vivianne Miedema, center, celebrates with her teammates after scoring his side's opening goal during the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands at Allmend Stadion Luzern in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Vivianne Miedema, from Netherlands scores the opening goal, her 100th for the Netherlands, during the Euro 2025, group D, soccer match between Wales and the Netherlands in Lucerne, Switzerland, Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Urs Flueeler/Keystone via AP)

ADELBODEN, Switzerland (AP) — The big surprise of the World Cup slalom season scored his second win Sunday adding to his fast-rising reputation before the Winter Olympics.

Paco Rassat raced to the fastest time in the second run to rise from fourth place, and push two Norwegians down the podium steps after they had been fastest in the morning run.

United States-born Atle Lie McGrath was edged out by 0.18 seconds and first-run leader Henrik Kristoffersen dropped to third, trailing 0.20 behind Rassat.

The 27-year-old Frenchman had a career-best result of ninth in World Cup races before this Olympic season started.

Rassat now has two wins, a third place and two sixth places this season and shapes as a medal contender for the Milano Cortina Olympics. The men’s slalom is on Feb. 16 at Bormio.

“To win on this crazy hill at Adelboden, It’s something really unbelievable," Rassat told Swiss broadcaster RTS, describing his season as “a magnificent surprise.”

Rassat also took the lead in the seasonlong World Cup slalom standings, ahead of his France teammate Clément Noël, the defending Olympic champion. Noël tied for eighth Sunday.

McGrath was runner-up in the Adelboden slalom for the third time in four years.

“It’s kind of crazy,” said McGrath, whose father Felix skied for the U.S. at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. “I’m of course super happy, it’s such a challenging slope and mentally it’s one of the toughest places to perform because of this amazing crowd.”

Another packed finish-area crowd at Adelboden observed a minute’s silence before racing for the victims of the fatal fire in a bar in nearby Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day. Crans-Montana hosts men’s and women’s World Cup races in three weeks’ time.

The World Cup overall standings leader, four-time title holder Marco Odermatt, does not ski slalom and his huge lead was cut a little by Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who placed fourth. Pinheiro Braathen was second to Odermatt in the classic giant slalom Saturday.

The men’s World Cup circuit stays in central Switzerland for the storied Lauberhorn meeting at Wengen, for a super-G on Friday, the classic downhill Saturday and a slalom Sunday.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

France's Paco Rassat speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

France's Paco Rassat reacts at the finish line during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Finland's Eduard Hallberg speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Giovanni Zenoni)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen ahead of an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup slalom, in Adelboden, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)