Women´s Euros: Netherlands lose 2017 Player of the Tournament Martens for knockout stage

Lieke Martens, the Netherlands’ star performer in their Women’s Euro 2017 success, will play no further part in the Oranje’s title defence.

The former Barcelona winger, who has just joined Paris Saint-Germain, was the Player of the Tournament in the previous Women’s Euros.

The Netherlands won that tournament in surely the highlight of an outstanding year for Martens, who was also the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and The Best FIFA Women’s Player.

And the 29-year-old had appeared set to play a key role for the Netherlands again in England, creating a joint-high seven Oranje chances in the group stage – including assisting Danielle van de Donk’s winner against Portugal – and attempting six shots herself.

But the Netherlands announced on Tuesday the injury Martens had sustained in their third match against Switzerland would rule her out for the remainder of the finals.

Lieke Martens heeft tijdens de wedstrijd tegen Zwitserland een voetblessure opgelopen. Uit nader onderzoek is gebleken dat het voor haar niet meer mogelijk is om nog in actie te komen tijdens dit EK. Heel veel sterkte Lieke. https://t.co/0E8xFMM9J8

— OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) July 19, 2022

“Lieke Martens suffered a foot injury during the match against Switzerland,” a post on the team’s Twitter page read.

“Further investigation has shown that it is no longer possible for her to take action during this European Championship. Lots of luck, Lieke.”

The Netherlands face highly fancied France in the quarter-finals in Rotherham on Saturday.