The Dutch women’s team made Dutch hockey history on Friday evening by winning the gold medal at the Paris Games: for the first time ever, both Dutch teams are on the highest podium at the same Games. The Dutch women’s hockey team were able to hang their second gold medal in succession, after winning the final after a 1-1 final score via shoot-outs against China, coached by Alyson Annan. The Australian who won gold with the Dutch women’s team in Tokyo three years ago.
The victory came after a thrilling shoot-out series, in which Oranje goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal claimed a leading role. Just like Pirmin Blaak had done 24 hours earlier for the Oranje men against Germany. Veenendaal neutralized three shoot-outs by China. Pien Sanders, Maria Verschoor and Marijn Veen scored for Oranje. Then the party started.
A hurricane of cheers came from the stands after Veenendaal took the decisive shoot-out from Ning Ma. Veenendaal stormed to the corner of the Stade Yves-du-Manoir and screamed. In her wake the celebrating Dutch players. They screamed, they cheered and cried. All the tension of two tough weeks came out. Oh oh how happy they were.
And how beautiful was the fairytale for Veenendaal. For years she was the number 2 behind Josine Koning at tournaments. However, Van Ass expressed confidence in her. Veenendaal could bring something extra, was his reasoning. She did that when it had to be. When the Netherlands needed her the most. She was – just like Blaak – the hero of Oranje.
Kroon
The gold medal in Paris is a new crown on a display of power by the Orange Women that is unparalleled in international hockey, but even in global sports. Since winning the World Cup final in 2014, the Dutch women’s hockey team has been virtually unbeatable. Since then, all major title tournaments have been won by the women in the orange tank tops. The only blemish on their golden escutcheon is the much-maligned silver medal at the Games in Rio de Janeiro, when Great Britain defeated the Dutch team after shoot-outs because everything went well and went well in the final. Since then, the Netherlands has been unbeatable.
First under the leadership of Alyson Annan for many years, who was also the coach in Rio. After her much-discussed departure in 2023, interim coach Jamilon Mülders won the world title in Spain. Then the experienced Paul van Ass took over the helm from the German. All coaches had their own working methods, but also the same common thread: everything they touched turned to gold. The excellent results are the result of enormous discipline, dedication and boundless ambition.
There was no team at these Games that was as strong and fit as the Dutch team. No matter how often the Dutch women win, there is never a moment of slackening. Laziness is a word that does not exist in the Dutch vocabulary. That sometimes gets snowed under by all the gold. Unfairly.
Certainty
Especially when you see the pressure they have to perform under. Here in Paris, the gold medal was already written in advance as a certainty. As a player of Oranje, you can only meet expectations and never exceed them. Oranje fought their way through the group stage of this Olympic tournament with difficulty. Not in terms of results, because only Germany made it difficult for the Netherlands in terms of the score. But in terms of the game. That was never relaxed. Only in the semi-final, before half-time, did we see a glimpse of a liberated Oranje, who left arch-enemy Argentina without a chance. Las Leonas preached tough talk beforehand, but in the match, after just a few minutes of play, they were already trembling with their backs on the ground within their own 23-meter line.
The impact of the ball that sent Joosje Burg to the ground put an end to the frivolous game of Oranje and also meant game over for the striker from Den Bosch. She came back on the field briefly in the second half, but was replaced by Pien Dicke during the match against China. A blow for the sympathetic Burg, who was fortunately able to collect the deserved gold medal himself on Friday evening.
Disadvantage
Dicke, striker of SCHC, made her Olympic debut in the final. She saw that the Dutch team started the duel with China well. The Asian opponent was immediately put under pressure and the Netherlands controlled the match. But the Dutch team quickly became sloppy. And it must be said, the Chinese players defended very strongly and were often in between with a stick. But Annan’s team can do more than just defend, as became clear in the remainder of the first quarter. The first blows in the Dutch circle were processed well, but then there was the sixth minute and suddenly it was: 0-1.
Wen Dan was able to escape unhindered via the back line, she put the ball at the first post where Yi Chen reacted more attentively than defender Renée van Laarhoven and tapped the ball into the far corner. A signature that you can put Annan’s name under in capital letters. Under her leadership, Oranje scored dozens in exactly the same way.
The blow of the deficit hit the Dutch hard. For the second time in this tournament, the reigning Olympic champion had to play catch-up. The previous time was in the group stage against Germany, when it took until the final stage for the Dutch to turn that into a 2-1 victory.
To recover
The Netherlands had to recover from this setback, but seemed to equalize within five minutes. Xan de Waard brilliantly dribbled past three or four opponents, but saw her goal attempt stranded on the excellent goalie Jiao Ye. The Dutch team came even closer to equalizing from a penalty corner by Frédérique Matla. The post prevented success.
At that point, however, it was already the second quarter and the Netherlands had not gotten much further than a few half chances. Even a penalty corner with a cannon Yibbi Jansen on the head did not result in a goal, because Annan apparently knew exactly what was coming in her analyses.
Despite the 0-1 deficit, Van Ass was still full of confidence at half-time. ‘We are playing well. We are waiting for a goal from the Netherlands. We are pushing on,’ the coach said in front of the NOS cameras.
The Dutch did that pressing after the break, but goals were not forthcoming. There were half chances, but there was never the space to really take a swing. Just like against Australia and Belgium, the Chinese circle saw red and there was no way through for the Dutch.
In the counter, the title favorite even had a lucky escape when Yang Chen’s shot was just not accurate enough to cause problems for goalkeeper Anne Veenendaal.
Mass cheering
But it must be said: the Dutch team did not give up. The almost fifteen thousand fans in the stands understood that the players could use all the support they could get. Felice Albers, one of the stars of Tokyo, took her team by the arm. She got a penalty corner and China lost her video referee. Jansen was on the bench again and Matla threw the ball wide of the goal via a Chinese stick. It was the end of the third quarter. Time was running out for the Dutch team. Fifteen minutes to go. Surely it wouldn’t…?
But as she often does this tournament, Yibbi Jansen was the top scorer. She doesn’t always shine in the field game of Oranje, but woe betide when that ball is on the head of the circle. Then she is the great strength of this Olympic hockey tournament. No one in the world is as good as the Brabant native. Halfway through the fourth quarter it was a hit. The ball hit the board and the cheering in the field and in the stands that followed was never so big for the Oranje Dames this tournament. 1-1.
The Dutch pressed on. The Chinese had to back off. Time was ticking away. With two minutes to go, another corner. Jansen again. Would it? No. The Chinese Ye saved.
Was there still time? 1 minute. China had the ball. Penalty corner against. No, not really. De Waard rightly asked for a referral.
Another chance for China. Missed. Game over.
Shoot-outs should bring the decision. Annan was already cheering. As if she had won. She gambled on the preparation of Ric Charlesworth, her mentor who trained the team for months in shoot-outs.
But that was what Oranje had done, as was clear. With Anne Veenendaal in the lead role. She lived her own fairy tale and thus provided the Netherlands with the historic double gold medal.
Netherlands* – China 1-1
6. Yi Chen 0-1
51. Yibbi Jansen (sc) 1-1
Oranje wins after shoot outs, with goals by Pien Sanders, Maria Verschoor and Marijn Veen. Freeke Moes missed for Oranje, while Anne Veenendaal neutralized three goal attempts.
by Hockey.nl
