This week at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, we sat down with Daphne van Domselaar to reflect on her busy international break with the Netherlands and look ahead to some big UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final matches against Lyon.
We also discussed the togetherness between the goalkeeper union at the club, and what our Save of the Month-winning shot-stopper likes to get up to in her spare time!
Firstly, we asked Daphne how the last few weeks have been, in which Netherlands took four points from two matches against France to go top of their 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying group.
“It was really good,” she said. “We had two games against France with the Netherlands. We were able to win one game and drew a game. I think it was a good time to grow as a team. We’re number one in the group now, so yes, lots of positives.
“It was a challenging block for us because we were a few people down, a few players down. Being able to show up still with a bit of a younger team but a lot of determination and a lot of energy is really good. If you look back to the results, we can be really proud of that.”
Turning attention back to club football, we now have a huge Champions League semi-final first leg at home to French champions Lyon to look forward to, kicking off at 3.30pm at Arsenal Stadium on Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to it so, so much,” Daphne added. “It’s a bit of like a throwback to last season, of course, playing Lyon again in the semi-final. We made some good memories away and being home as well with all the fans. I’m really looking forward to getting a win and to put us in a good position for the second semi-final and hopefully the final in the end.
“I was in the stands for the first game last season. I was injured but being able to play the second game, being there with the team was a big thing for me personally and being able to put on such a good performance. You had to make up something and showing up that day as a team was something I loved that we did and it was really good that we were able to do that. Really good crowd there as well in Lyon, so yes, it was all good, positive memories.”
Sunday’s showdown marks the beginning of a busy period between now and the end of the season, as we’ll play seven matches (eight if we reach the final) up until the end of May.
“We’ve got important games in the league as well and being able to play for the final in the Champions League is a big thing and a big achievement and we know what we’ve got to do and I’m just looking forward to end the season well and make a good result in the Champions League,” Daphne said. “So, a lot of games but I’ll be ready for it.”
A more light-heard topic up next – the memes and fun photos Daphne and her goalkeeping colleagues create ahead of training on a weekly basis, such as the Spider-Man impression above.
“Basically every time the photographer is there, we try to make a nice photo or something else, something different,” Daphne explained. “Sometimes it’s hard for the fans to figure out what we’re doing but yes, we have a lot of fun together! We can work hard together as well so I think we’ve got the right balance of working hard, having fun and challenging each other. So yes, we get along really well on the pitch, off the pitch as well. So, a good group of people.
“One of them was YMCA as well. We’ve got one for next week as well so you guys will see it! It’s great fun to work with them.”
It was announced earlier this month that Daphne had won the Barclays Women’s Super League Save of the Month award for March by way of her stunning stop against a Bethany England header in the north London derby.
“I saw it coming,” she reflected. “It was a good cross from them, out wide on the pitch, and as soon as she hit it, I was quite far out, so I was able to recover well and I was happy I could do that. It was a great feeling, especially coming back after a while, being on the pitch again. It was great that I could pull off that save. I was happy with the win as well in the end.”
Lastly, we wanted to ask Daphne what she likes to get up to outside of football, not that there will be much time off between now and the end of the campaign!
“Right now it’s nice and sunny so I would love to go out, get some coffees with some teammates, some friends,” she said. “Enjoy non-football time as well. Also relax and recover well. So through the games we’ve got some time off as well. Not much but I will enjoy it, especially when the sun is out again. Around this area and in London I will have a lot of options to get my coffee. Sun, coffee, friends, and play some games.”
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