Miedema: Holland are feeling the flow before Sweden showdown

Vivianne Miedema feels World Cup semi-finalists Holland have rediscovered the flow which saw them crowned European champions.Sarina Wiegmans side have eased into the last four in France they next face Sweden with a 100 per cent record, despite facing criticism from sections of the Dutch media for some of their performances.Expectations in Holland were raised by the teams surprise Euro 2017 triumph on home soil.The Road to Lyon #NED #NZL #CMR #CAN #JPN #ITA #SWE #FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/lOr1BcDkHX FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 30, 2019Arsenal striker Miedema, who has scored three World Cup goals, believes her team-mates have grown into the tournament and are gathering momentum.I think at the Euros, no one expected a lot from us and once we started winning our country stood behind us and we just kind of got in that flow, the 22-year-old told a press conference ahead of Wednesdays game.And then we came here and everyone in Holland said, Oh, they will be world champions and that gave us a lot of pressure.I think the first couple of games we didnt always play the best football but we still got nine points in the group, were in the semi-finals right now, so I think you can say were back in that flow.Hello Lyon! #OnzeJacht pic.twitter.com/svNx225oEF OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) July 1, 2019After topping Group E by beating New Zealand, Cameroon and Canada, Holland overcame Japan and Italy in the knockout stages to reach their first World Cup semi-final.Head coach Wiegman thinks negative comments about her team stem from their success and the growing interest in the womens game.At the start of the tournament, the players were heavily criticised, said Wiegman.I think thats part of our lives right now. We need to deal with it and we just need to focus on our game and try to get better every game.Sarina Wiegman, right, led Holland to Euro 2017 glory (Mike Egerton/PA)We are visible and thats why there is more criticism.A lot of attention is paid to our team, and that is very good and positive that means people take us seriously and we have to perform well.Wiegman expects Barcelona forward Lieke Martens, who has been struggling with a toe injury, to be available for the match in Lyon.Sweden, ranked ninth in the world, are one place below Holland in the FIFA rankings, and Wiegman predicts a tight encounter.A first-ever #FIFAWWC semi-final appearance for @oranjevrouwen! #ITANED pic.twitter.com/4qEAtN974s FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) June 29, 2019Sweden is a very strong country, has been a strong team for years, said the 49-year-old.They have played very well in this tournament. However, we have played very well as well.This will be an interesting match for both of us because we are facing equal opponents.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){
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