“Every child should be ashamed of seeing mom’s tears.” Frans Bauer’s words about his hit When Een Moederhart Moet Huilen were the ones Jill Roord heard growing up. And stopped. She innocently escaped childhood because she made her mother cry. Then puberty.
But at the age of 22, Jill broke the code – on a family vacation. Fortunately, her mother’s tears on the banks of the Seine were a delight. Chantal Roord had just watched as her daughter won the eleventh hour against New Zealand in the opening game of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup France ™ in the Netherlands.
It was the goal that sparked a carnival of Oranjeleeuwinnen – lively singing and dancing in changing rooms, enthusiastic Orange parades and a run to the finals. Here is a talk with Roord about the milestone of his career so far in Le Havre, which has been a submarine starter for France since 2019, the hopes of the women’s Olympic football tournament, the trophy chances of Arsenal and Vivianne Miedema.
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About Jill Roord’s Father
My father played next to Marco van Basten at this tournament so I could hear stories about his career. And my mother played basketball. She played in the national youth teams, but then she met my father and she wasn’t so serious anymore.
My parents always told me that as soon as I was able to walk, I always played football, but I first joined a club when I was five. I was always outside – before school, after school – and I played on the street with boys, my friends, and my brothers. It’s basically everything I’ve ever done. Ronaldinho was my role model. He was the best in the world at the time. The way he played, he was the one who had you on your computer to see highlights.
How Important for you to play in Tokyo Olympic 2020?
Olympic 2020 is an amazing tournament. The whole event will be one big adventure, so I’m really looking forward to that and I can’t wait to taste the Olympic atmosphere.
I know if we are in good shape if we play the way we can play we can beat everyone. If not, every game will be difficult. I think the USA are the absolute favorites. You seem to be winning everything right now. But I think we’ll get to that level. We have to keep going and evolving, but there is something about them – they are just a step ahead of everyone.
What is your favorite or best position to play?
This is an interesting question. I’ve always been an attacking midfielder, a real number 10, and I’ve always said that this is my best position. But I think now and in the future, I could be a good number 6, a little more defensive, pick up the ball and control the game. Sometimes I like to be at 10, sometimes at 6 number, a little variety. I think I can do both. We will see.
