UTRECHT, July 16, 2017 - For two minutes ofthe UEFA Women’s EURO opener between Netherlands and Norway thoughts were not onfootball.
The sea of orange created a wave at theStadion Galgenwaard, as 21,732 supporters wearing their team colours took totheir feet to show support and appreciation for two members of the Dutchfootball community.
Sylvia Nooij, a defender who played sixtimes for the national side, died at 32 a week before the start of competition.The former national champion with Eredivisie club ADO Den Haag had suffered anepileptic seizure.
As a mark of respect the crowd applauded inthe 32nd minute then remained standing to offer a further round of applause,two minutes later, for Abdelhak Nouri, known to fans a Appie. The midfielder atEredivisie AFC Ajax collapsed while playing against Werder Bremen in Austriafrom heart irregularities and suffered severe and irreversible brain damage.
Nouri has been in the thoughts of footballplayers and fans all over the world and as the applause in the 34 th minute,his shirt number, came to an end, a handmade banner emerged with a messageurging football to “Pray for Appie.”
Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema, who playsher club football with Arsenal, said later: "It is amazing that the wholecrowd done that. Both players totally deserve it [for fans] to stand and thinkabout everything that’s happened. Some girls knew Nooij and Appie, and it hasbeen a hard week for us.”
Follow Maryanne Orr on Twitter @_maryanneee
