Queen of the set piece Sherida Spitse retires from international football

Sherida Spitse played her final international match for the Netherlands in a 1-0 victory over Canada, marking the end of her career with the national team. She retired from international football at age 35 but will continue playing for Ajax in the Dutch Eredivisie. During the match, she sang the national anthem one last time and was honored by her teammates with a guard of honor.

Spitse holds the record for the most international appearances in Europe, with 248 caps, surpassing other legends. Her international career began in 2006 at just 16 years old, when she was informed of her call-up while working in a supermarket. Over her career, she participated in five European Championships and three World Cups, with notable achievements including winning the 2017 European Championship.

In the 2017 European Championship, Spitse started without the captain's armband but later lifted the trophy as captain after scoring a free-kick in the final against Denmark, which she described as the best day of her international career. She also captained the team to the 2019 World Cup final, where they lost to the United States. However, her later tournaments, such as the 2022 and 2024 European Championships and the 2023 World Cup, were less successful, with early exits.

Throughout her career, Spitse was known for her leadership, vocal coaching, and exceptional skills, particularly in set-pieces and long passes, such as her assist to Vivianne Miedema in the 2017 final. She controlled the midfield pace effectively, but her absence due to a knee injury in the 2021 Olympics highlighted her importance, as the team struggled defensively without her.

In her final years, Spitse faced criticism and was moved to center-back under coach Andries Jonker to compensate for her declining pace. She started the 2024 European Championship on the bench, concluding a distinguished but evolving international career marked by highs and challenges.