Women's Euro 2022: Fan festival held in Leigh for Netherlands v Portugal match

Video report by Victoria Grimes


A North West town has turned red and orange as it plays host to the latest match of the Women's Euros as the Netherlands take on Portugal.

The game - which will see both sides fight for their first win - is the second of three games Leigh Sports Village is hosting.

Ahead of the 8pm kick off a special festival has been put on for both the Portuguese and Dutch fans descending on the town, with seas of orange and red shirts getting into the party spirit.

The free event, in Civic Square from 2pm to 6:30pm, offers live music and entertainment; street theatre, spoken-word performances and fun family activities including face painting.

And some of the Dutch fans, who arrived early for the match, have been getting a taste of Leigh as football fever hits the town.

They have been trying the local delicacy - a pie - which they say was "very good".

Both teams made a steady start to the tournament, with the Netherlands, and title-defenders, overcoming key injuries to earn a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Sweden, while Portugal fought back to a two-all draw with Switzerland.

But the Netherlands will have to do without striker Vivianne Miedema after their all-time top goalscorer tested positive for Covid-19.

After winning the tournament on home soil in 2017, the Netherlands defence of their title has not gone to plan so far.

Captain Sari van Veenendaal is out with a shoulder injury which the goalkeeper sustained in the first half against Sweden.

Meanwhile, Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen is also isolating and defender Aniek Nouwen is expected to miss the game because of an ankle problem.

But Coach Mark Parsons has backed his players to pull through.

He said: “When this group get hit by a blow, they have one reaction and that’s to dig deep and give everything,” he said at a press conference.

“(There is) no complacency – we have to be at our best at every moment.”

Portugal showed resilience in their opening match, after conceding two goals in quick succession, to prove they can compete at the top level.

The team were added back into the tournament after FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia's national and club teams from all competitions.

Francisco Neto, Portugal coach said: "We need to start super-focused on our jobs; at this level, mistakes will be punished.

"Against experienced teams, used to these games, with players with huge talent, we need to be fully focused and try to negate the attacking talents of the Netherlands. There's only one way to do that: have the ball and keep the ball."


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