NETHERLANDS: ORANGE WITHOUT VAN ASS AND BEINS FOR THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Compared to the selection that won bronze at the world championship in India last January, Seve van Ass and Teun Beins are the two internationals that are now missing. Jasper Brinkman was reserve in India. Joep de Mol and Duco Telgenkamp were missing at the World Cup and have now been selected. The national coach is still waiting to appoint a second keeper. That battle is between Pirmin Blaak and Derk Meijer. The postponement of that decision is partly due to the imminent birth of Blaak’s child.

“I briefed the group today. Those are always difficult moments. There are really many more who deserve it,’ says Delmée. ‘We have tried to form the best composition per line and position. It was really hard to make the right choices, but we think with this selection we have the best chance to defend our title at the moment.’

The high number of attackers in the Orange selection is striking: six. ‘Thijs van Dam has also played in midfield in recent weeks,’ says Delmée. ‘He will also rotate with that, so he is actually only half as an attacker.’

“The European Championship is a title tournament and that’s what we play for,” concludes the national coach. ‘But once every four years it is also the shortest route to the Olympic Games. That ticket is a nice bonus at this price.’