Renee van Asten made her Netherlands debut on Tuesday evening, started against France and scored the opening goal in the 11th minute as the Dutch beat the world’s number three team 2-1. It was the kind of night a player remembers because it keeps moving faster than she can take it in.
Van Asten said afterward she could hardly believe what had happened. She said she had no idea what was going on and was stunned by it all, adding that she almost sank through her legs from happiness after seeing the ball go in. For a young defender from Ajax Vrouwen, it was a first international appearance that immediately turned into a decisive one.
The selection itself carried weight. Arjan Veurink chose to start Van Asten and said he had confidence in her before the match, a call that paid off inside the opening quarter-hour. She said she had trained hard, was told the coach had seen enough to trust her, and knew she had to be ready if the chance came. “I don’t come here just to sit on the bench,” she said, making clear she intended to push for more than a first cap.
France gave the debut a real test. Ranked number three in the world, they were the stronger paper opponent and the side most expected to control the evening, but Van Asten’s early goal changed the tone and gave the Netherlands the edge it needed to finish the job. The result also underlined how quickly a debut can become a turning point when the chance is taken immediately.
Van Asten said she would watch everything back because the day felt hard to describe, calling it an unbelievable debut, goal and win all at once. For the Netherlands, the next question is not whether she can handle the moment. It is how far this first night can carry her from here.