Hosts and defending champions the Netherlands suffered heartbreak at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen on Sunday, falling 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out to Argentina after a thrilling 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Argentina drew first blood midway through the second quarter when midfielder María Granatto expertly flicked home a rebound past Dutch goalkeeper Josine Koning. The Oranje hit back just before halftime, as forward Lidewij Welten powered a penalty corner strike into the net, silencing the 8,000-strong crowd.
Penalty Shoot-out Drama
Neither side could break the deadlock in extra time, sending the final to penalty strokes. Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Belén Succi produced two decisive saves, while her teammates slotted home three of their four attempts. The Netherlands managed only one conversion, handing Las Leonas a memorable victory.
Argentina’s Triumph and Reactions
- Las Leonas claim their first World Cup crown since 2010, ending a 16-year wait.
- Captain Agustina Albertario: “This title is a dream come true. We fought for every ball and showed our true character.”
- Top scorer María Granatto finishes the tournament with seven goals.
For the Netherlands, the silver medal brings an end to a brilliant campaign on home soil. Coach Alyson Annan praised her players’ resilience but admitted the shoot-out loss “stings deeply”.
Both finalists have already secured their places at next year’s Paris Olympics, but Argentina’s victory in Amstelveen will be remembered as one of the sport’s great World Cup moments.