This week we dig into the section ‘Green as grass‘ every day in our archives, looking for the first flashes of class among the current generation of internationals, then still with a young head. In this fifth and final installment, we conclude with Jonas de Geus, midfielder of Kampong. In 2016, he guided Oranje U18 to the European Championship final in Cork, Ireland. He then came on the radar of national coach Max Caldas.
The still only 18-year-old De Geus, together with Derck de Vilder, formed the defining duo in the midfield of Oranje U18 at the youth EC in Cork. For the parents of the eighteen youth internationals who traveled with them, it is a feast for the eyes. National coach Bas Bruin even calls it ‘the best midfield of the tournament’.
Despite the excellent group phase, which ended as group winner with seven points from three matches, the Netherlands balances in the semi-final against Belgium on the brink of elimination. Fifteen minutes before the final signal, the Belgians take the lead by shooting 3-2 into the ropes. It is a sledgehammer blow for the Netherlands. Seven minutes before time starts to run out, when De Geus feels the pressure on his shoulders. This is the moment he has to stand up.
From teammate De Vilder, with whom he captured Olympic gold in Paris eight years later, he receives the ball, in the area between the 23-meter line and the center line. The distance to the Belgian goal is still quite long. But De Geus does what no other player on the field would do: he sets off on a run.
First he passes one man. Then a second. To finally even pass a third man. Defenders he leaves behind him as if their soles were glued to the pitch. Then he cuts inside and lashes out. Goal: 3-3. One individual action by the midfielder hoists the Netherlands back into the lead.
In the bottom row, Jonas de Geus is the fifth person from the left. Click on photo to enlarge. Photo: Koen Suyk
Shoot-out
When the final signal sounds seven minutes later, the score is still tied. Shoot-outs must now decide which country reaches the final. Again, De Geus takes his responsibility. He fooled the Belgian goalkeeper with a turn and scored. A save by goalkeeper Hidde Brink on the fifth Belgian shoot-out leads the Dutch to the final.
Coolly, De Geus said after the game, “I am never concerned with tension and actually always do the same thing. I run to the goalie and turn in. Then you have two options, turn left or right. Make a few shines, it’s as simple as that. If you keep that in your head, it’s not difficult.’
The portrait photo taken of Jonas de Geus prior to the EKU18 in Cork. Photo: Koen Suyk
After the U18 European Championship, things are going fast for De Geus
Despite his heroic role in the semifinals, De Geus cannot prevent the European Championship gold from slipping between the fingers of the Netherlands. In the final against Germany, the Netherlands sees its ambitions run aground with a 4-3 defeat. But Almere’s top talent has definitely made his name.
After the youth EC, De Geus’ career shoots up like a rocket. First, he is selected for the World Cup in India with the Dutch Junior Team a few months later, where the Netherlands disappoints with a seventh place finish. Then the teenager receives an invitation from Max Caldas for the training camp of the big Dutch national team, in South Africa. And all that before the end of the calendar year.
It is the beginning of a brilliant international career, which already counts 147 international matches. Although it will be a while before he reaches 150: Tuesday it was announced that De Geus will miss the European Championship in Mönchengladbach, partly due to a knee injury.
This was the last episode in this column. Read back all episodes here.
by Hockey.nl
