The Netherlands’ national women’s soccer team is preparing for a big quarterfinal match against Spain in the 2019 Women’s World Cup. As the team gears up for the match, they will have to do so without one of their star players, Lieke Martens. Martens, who plays for FC Barcelona, has announced that she will be departing the USA and returning to the Netherlands.
The Netherlands’ team captain, Sherida Spitse, said that Martens’ departure is a big loss for the team. “Lieke is an important player for us and we are sad to see her go,” Spitse said. “She has been a great leader and a great friend to all of us.”
Martens has been a key player for the Netherlands since she joined the team in 2013. She has scored 20 goals in her international career and was named UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in 2017. She was also part of the Dutch team that won the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 tournament.
Martens’ departure comes as a surprise to many fans, as she is one of the most popular players on the team. However, the team is determined to move forward without her and focus on their upcoming match against Spain.
The Netherlands’ team manager, Sarina Wiegman, said that Martens’ departure will not affect the team’s morale or their performance in the upcoming match. “We are all very sad to see Lieke go,” Wiegman said. “But we are confident that we can still perform well without her.”
The Netherlands’ team will certainly miss Martens’ presence on the pitch, but they are determined to make it to the semifinals without her. The team is confident that they can make it to the next round and continue their impressive run in this year’s Women’s World Cup.
