NETHERLANDS: ORANGE WITHOUT WELTEN, FORTUIN AND FERNIG ON TITLE HUNT IN PRO LEAGUE

Lidewij Welten, Kyra Fortuin and Rosa Fernig are missing from the Orange selection of national coach Paul van Ass for the four Pro League matches in Amstelveen in the coming days. The Dutch women will play doubles against Germany and New Zealand in the decisive phase of the country competition from Friday 23 to Tuesday 27 June in the Wagener Stadium.

The attackers Welten (photo) and Fortuin and defender Fernig are still struggling with physical discomfort after the injuries they sustained at the end of the competition in the Tulp Hoofdklasse and are still not one hundred percent taxable. Keeper Julia Remmerswaal, who played against the United States in London in recent days, is also not in the selection for Amstelveen. Her place is taken again by Josine Koning, who was rested against America.

At full strength

Yibbi Jansen, Xan de Waard, Frédérique Matla, Maria Verschoor and Felice Albers were also not present in London. They were given a few days of rest by Van Ass, but will return to the selection for the duels with Germany and New Zealand. The Orange is thus entering the decisive phase of the fourth Pro League season at war strength.

Taste maker Xan de Waard will be back in action for the Orange Ladies after a short break in the coming days. Photo: William Vernes

The Oranje Dames have the best papers to win the FIH Pro League for the third time in history. Van Ass’s team has already collected 28 points in ten games. Belgium and Germany are the only two teams that can theoretically keep the Netherlands from winning the title, although both countries have significantly more loss points than the Orange.

Milestones

The Pro League block in Amstelveen has an individual touch for Yibbi Jansen, keeper Anne Veenendaal and Margot van Geffen. Jansen (46 caps ) can look forward to her fiftieth international match, Veenendaal is still two games away from her hundredth cap and veteran Van Geffen (246) can reach the limit of 250 international matches.

Frédérique Matla, with 27 goals Orange's most productive player in the FIH Pro League. Photo: William Vernes — Frédérique Matla, with 27 goals Orange’s most productive player in the FIH Pro League. Photo: William Vernes

For Frédérique Matla, there may also be a personal success in the upcoming Pro League block in the Wagener Stadium. The Orange striker needs one more goal to match New Zealand’s Olivia Merry as the Pro League’s all-time top scorer. Merry, who will also play in Amstelveen in the coming days, scored 28 goals in 38 Pro League matches, Malta has 27 hits in 37 matches.

Two of the six match days in Amstelveen are already sold out: Saturday 24 and Tuesday 27 June. Tickets for the other days are still for sale fihproleague.nl .

The 22-man squad

Player	Club	Caps	Goals
Felice Albers	Amsterdam	41	19
Marente Barentsen	Hurley	15	1
Joosje Burg	the Bosch	19	10
Pie thick	SCHC	22	8
Officer Fokke	Kampong	9	2
Margot van Geffen	HGC	246	17
Yibbi Jansen	SCHC	46	29
Marleen Jochems	Hurley	3	0
Josine King (k)	the Bosch	108	0
Sanne Koolen	the Bosch	84	0
Renée van Laarhoven	SCHC	40	3
Frederique Matla	the Bosch	108	78
Freeke Moes	Amsterdam	37	10
Laura Nunnink	the Bosch	167	2
Sabine Plönissen	Amsterdam	23	1
Lisa Post	SCHC	22	0
Penny Sanders	the Bosch	95	0
Mary Veen	Amsterdam	32	15
Anne Veenendaal (k)	Amsterdam	98	0
Mary Verschoor	Amsterdam	178	28
Xan de Waard	SCHC	190	17
Elzemiek Zandee	SCHC	7	0