Although he has not played a minute in the Orange since the Olympic final won in Paris, the most notable absentee in the selection for the European Championship in Mönchengladbach (Aug. 8-17) remains 147-time international Jonas de Geus. Due to a lingering knee injury, the 27-year-old Kampong midfielder is not yet at his old level, concludes national coach Jeroen Delmée. ‘Nobody gets a spot in the European Championship squad based on reputation,‘
For months De Geus has been embroiled in a battle with his knee. Persistent tendon problems continue to play tricks on him. After he temporarily took a break during the winter to focus on his social career, his knee problems put a stop to his planned return to the Dutch national team in March. He did play the Euro Hockey League and the playoffs with Kampong, but had to miss the international Pro League in June.
De Geus did train with the national team in recent weeks. But in the eyes of Delmée, something was missing: the familiar level, at which he acted in recent years, was not yet back. Jonas is struggling with a nasty injury. To recover from that, he has to put in a lot of field hockey hours. That is why he rejoined the training group this summer. Training at the clubs is currently stopped, but with a view to his rehabilitation it is not desirable that he does not play field hockey for two months. That was the main reason he rejoined the group. We agreed that afterwards we would quietly look at what is realistic towards the European Championship.
First, you have to be good enough. Second, you have to have been part of the team for a while. Jonas did not play an international for a year. You have to have some baggage. Jeroen Delmée about the absence of Jonas de Geus in the EC-selection
Delmée: ‘Fortunately his complaints are improving. But in the end it turned out that he is not yet the old Jonas and that the EC comes too soon. Nobody gets a spot in the EC selection based on reputation. First, you have to be good enough. Second, you have to have been part of the team for a while. Jonas did not play an international for a year. You have to have some baggage. Nobody can just get back in after a year’s absence. Unless you are really top, but he is not that at the moment. That is annoying, but it was a calculated scenario when he rejoined the group’.
De Geus continues to train this week to work on his recovery. But unlike Hidde Brink, Luke Dommershuijzen, Pepijn van der Heijden, Guus Jansen and Lucas Veen, he has not been named as a reserve. Delmée is clear about that: ‘If a midfielder gets injured, Lucas Veen will slide on. Jonas no longer has a chance at the EC.’
International Jonas de Geus is missing from the EC in Mönchengladbach. Photo: Willem Vernes
De Geus’ spot in midfield will be taken over by Terrance Pieters. The Kampong player, who was still passed over for the Olympics last year, has been prepared for that role in recent months. From pure striker, he has gradually advanced to the midfield of the team.
Delmée: ‘We already started that last winter. At Kampong he has also played in midfield in recent months. At the European Championship he will act as both midfielder and striker. What appeals to me in him is his power and the action he has. He is one of the fastest players in our selection. With that speed, he can create danger from the outside. He has already shown that threat at Kampong this season.’
‘Olivier Hortensius has developed quickly’
The biggest surprise in the EK-selection is Olivier Hortensius, who has only two international games to his name. is Compared to the Paris Olympics he takes the place of striker Duco Telgenkamp, who took a break from field hockey this summer. Beforehand, Miles Bukkens seemed the dream candidate to fill the gap in the forward line, but he injured his knee during the Pro League. That opened the door for Hortensius, who grabbed his chance with both hands, according to Delmée.
Delmée: ‘Olivier is goal-oriented and technically proficient. He has developed quickly. Due to an injury he had to miss the matches in Australia last winter, but the impression he has left since then is convincing enough. That’s why I think he deserves to go to the EC more than other guys.’
After his Orange debut against Argentina (1-1) in June, Olivier Hortensius takes a selfie with a fan at Wagener Stadium. Photo: Willem Vernes
Delmée expresses no preference for Maurits Visser or Derk Meijer
Another notable decision is that the battle for the goalkeeper spot remains open. Normally, Delmée is not known as a coach who puts off difficult choices. Yet he is not expressing a preference for either Derk Meijer or Maurits Visser. Both goalkeepers will get the chance to show themselves at the EC.
They are competing for the legacy of Pirmin Blaak, who ended his international career after the Olympic gold in Paris. For a long time, Maurits Visser seemed destined to follow in the legendary goalkeeper’s footsteps. He was a reserve behind Blaak at the Tokyo Olympics and kept a great European Championship final in Mönchengladbach in 2023. But then suddenly there was Derk Meijer, who came alongside in the goalkeeping race and even took a small lead. It was he who managed to trounce Visser in the battle for the role of backup goalkeeper at the Paris Games.
Jeroen Delmée expresses no preference for Maurits Visser or Derk Meijer. Photo: Willem Vernes
Delmée: “At the moment Derk and Maurits are barely out of sync. One week one is better, the next week the other. Our main focus point is next year’s World Cup. The difference is simply too small to assign a fixed number one right now. That’s why in Mönchengladbach they will both get the chance to goalkeepers. I think it’s important that they gain that experience. For Derk it will be his debut as first goalkeeper at a final tournament, Maurits already gained that experience two years ago during the European Championship. They now get the chance to show who is the best. It’s not my preference to approach it that way. But now that the differences are so small, I have to act that way – against my nature.’
He has already tied the knot on who gets playing time when, he says. But before he makes that decision, he wants to talk to the goalkeepers themselves. One thing is certain, assures Delmée: “There will be no quarterback changes. They will both just be on goal the whole game.’
by Hockey.nl
