Top of the Klasse

Chelsea’s 19-year-old midfielder Wieke Kaptein arrives at the Euros off a first season in which she lifted all three domestic trophies, having already been handed a surprise World Cup debut at 17. She describes joining a successful team without doubting she could handle it, proving it to herself in pre-season, and the goosebumps of warming up against the United States in Australia. She grew up watching the 2017 EURO winners on the sofa and now plays alongside Danielle van de Donk, Jackie Groenen, Sherida Spitse and Vivianne Miedema. Her parents’ advice to always be herself has stood in for media training; she likes pressure and full stadiums but is highly self-critical after performances she is unhappy with. At 19 she has won every prize in Holland and England, and expects a message from Aggie Beever-Jones before facing England.