Netherlands: Dave Smolenaars makes the final decisions for the Dutch Juniors World Cup selection

Dave Smolenaars – national coach of the Dutch Juniors – has announced the eighteen-man selection for the World Cup-21 in Chile (November 29 – December 10). Noa Muller (Amsterdam) and Mea de Vries (Kampong) did not survive the final selection. They have been designated as reserves.

Tuesday afternoon was the moment of truth. One by one, the players had to report to Smolenaars after training, in a closed room in the Huizen clubhouse. One came out with a smile on her face. The other couldn’t keep it dry. Players hugged each other with joy, or just put an arm around each other.

Five lucky people also played at the previous World Cup-21, in the spring of 2022 in South Africa, where the Netherlands won gold. These are Mette Winter (SCHC), Jip Dicke (HDM), Daantje de Kruijff (Hurley) and the goalkeepers Babette Backers (Kampong) and Sofie ter Kuile (HGC). Four players made their debut in the summer of 2022 at a tournament with the Dutch Juniors, the European Championship in Ghent (bronze): Lotte Beetsma (HDM), Pam van der Laan (Pinoké), Isis van Loon (HGC) and Lilli de Nooijer (HGC) .

For the nine others, the World Cup in Chile will be their first tournament with the Dutch Juniors. These are Trijntje Beljaars (SCHC), Eline Jansen (Kampong), Sam Luttmer (Huizen), Guusje Moes (Orange-Red), Noor van den Nieuwenhof (Kampong), Alessia Norbiato (Amsterdam), Emma Reijnen (Den Bosch), Mikki Roberts (Tilburg) and Imke Verstraeten (Pinoké).

Noa Muller has been appointed as reserve together with Mea de Vries. Photo: Willem Vernes

Thirteen players from the World Cup selection already had the good news conversation with Smolenaars this summer. Seven others were still unsure. Muller and De Vries will travel to Chile as reserves. In the event of an injury, they may substitute.

Smolenaars thought this was a good moment to announce the World Cup selection, just over a month before the tournament. ‘It was a difficult choice. The levels are extremely close together. But this gives peace now. Now there is still plenty of time for this to sink in. Starting next week we will enter the next phase of preparation. Then we look forward again, towards the World Cup. The time has come to connect the dots.’

Knee injury Alessia Norbiato

Alessia Norbiato (Amsterdam) walked on crutches in the Huizen clubhouse on Tuesday. She was injured last Friday in the Hurley-Amsterdam (1-4) match with a knee injury. It is still unclear how serious it is. She will soon undergo an MRI scan. This will provide more clarity about her chances of being fit in time. If the injury proves to be of a long-term nature, Muller and De Vries will come into the picture as replacements.

In any case, Smolen residents have their fingers crossed that everyone stays fit. The big league players have seven competition games in one month. Moreover, there is a busy program ready, with four big league matches and one round in the Gold Cup. “We will not put anyone to the sword,” says Smolenaars. ‘We keep a close eye on the players’ resilience.’

Jip Dicke plays her second World Cup-21 in Chile. Photo: Willem Vernes

Six players with a drag push in the World Cup selection

Now that the World Cup selection has been announced, there are a number of other decisions that Smolenaars have to make. He will soon make a decision about who will play goalkeeper. Just like at the World Cup in South Africa, Babette Backers (Kampong) and Sofie ter Kuile (HGC) were selected, Backers was the replacement for the injured Sarah Sinck. Ter Kuile was the first goalkeeper.

At the head of the circle, Smolenaars has a luxury problem. The World Cup selection includes no fewer than six players with a drag push. Mikki Roberts (Tilburg) and Sam Luttmer (Huizen) are used to regularly taking a corner at their club. Trijntje Beljaars (SCHC) and Noor van den Nieuwenhof (Kampong) are slightly lower in the pecking order at their club, but occasionally also get a ball on target. Imke Verstraeten (Pinoké) and Jip Dicke (HDM) are also starting to push more and more. ‘Sometime in the coming weeks we will draw up a ranking. This is a luxury problem. The situation has sometimes been different in the past. Then we sometimes only had one towing specialist, or even zero,” says Smolenaars, who will soon start his fifth junior World Championship as a coach.

Lilli de Nooijer has been selected for the World Cup-21 in Chile. Photo: Willem Vernes

Strongly occupied World Cup

The Netherlands defends the world title in Chile. Compared to last year in South Africa, this world championship has a stronger field of attendance. Top countries such as Australia and Belgium, but also outsiders such as Spain and New Zealand, are now included. They were missing at the time, partly due to corona.

The Dutch Juniors play in the group against Australia, South Africa and Chile. “Not only are the players really looking forward to the World Cup, so am I,” says Smolenaars. ‘This world championship has everything to be a wonderful tournament.’

The World Cup selection: