‘My goal is clear: I eventually want to become the first goalkeeper of Orange. I don’t hide that ambition,’ said goalkeeper Hidde Brink convincingly after his debut for the Dutch national team Thursday against Ireland (6-2 win). With Pinoké he has impressed for years, but in the Dutch national team he is ahead of Maurits Visser and Derk Meijer in the battle for the two spots at the European Championship in Mönchengladbach.
Normally, national coach Jeroen Delmée only announces his selection the evening before the match. But that he was going to play his first international game no longer came as a surprise to Brink. After the two games against India, video analyst Joep van Nuland gave him a laptop with images of Ireland on it. I guessed that I was going to play one of those two games against Ireland,’ laughs the likeable Pinoké goalkeeper. ‘Eventually a message arrived in our goalkeeper group app: I got to goalkeep the second game. Very nice.
You can tell from Brink that he is already 26 years old, relatively old for a rookie. His statements after the game go beyond just the familiar story about how nice it is to play in a full stadium and sing along to the National Anthem, as most rookies say. Brink is not afraid to express his ambition. He is clear about his goal: “I have a long-term goal. Ideally, I would like to be in the European Championship selection, of course, and I am going to fight very hard for that. But if I don’t make it, it won’t be a disaster. I am looking at the 2028 Olympics, in Los Angeles. I want to be first goalkeeper there.
Jeroen Delmée shakes hands with Hidde Brink. Photo: Willem Vernes
In the hierarchy he is behind Maurits Visser and Derk Meijer
Three top goalkeepers from the Tulip big league are fighting for the legacy of Pirmin Blaak, who ended his international career after Olympic gold in Paris. For a long time, Maurits Visser (30) 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 (28), who came alongside in the goalkeeping race and even took a small lead. It was he who trounced Visser in the battle for the role of reserve goalkeeper for the Paris Games. Because Visser and Meijer made the most playing minutes under Delmée, the European Championship seems to come too soon for Brink.
‘Hidde deserved to finally play his first international. He has been training with us since the beginning of this season. For his development it is good that he is now through the excitement of that first time,’ thinks coach Delmée, who has split his goalkeepers into two groups for this block of eight Pro League games. The first four duels were for Visser and Brink. He will go into the second series with Meijer and Brink. In it, the Netherlands plays next Saturday and Sunday at Wagener Stadium against Argentina and Tuesday and Wednesday in London against England.
Hidde Brink prevents the Netherlands from falling behind with a save. Photo: Willem Vernes
The battle for the European Championship is still open. But we have all been able to see that Maurits has kept the first three games and Hidde only one Federal Coach Jeroen Delmée
Asked about Brink’s status in the selection, Delmée said, “The battle for the EC is still open. But we all could see that Maurits [Visser] has kept the first three games and Hidde only one. Hidde is our least experienced goalkeeper. There is a good chance that Derk [Meijer] will be goalkeeping in the next series. Let’s say 99 percent. Hidde might pick up another pot in London. I deliberately separated Maurice and Derk this time. Normally they are always together. Now they really have to take charge themselves, without each other. This is their chance to show what they are worth.’
In his first international, Brink finally got the stage to prove himself. It was a game with two faces for him. Especially before halftime, he showed what he is made of. Twice he prevented the Dutch from falling behind on a shot by Irishman Alistair Empey and on a penalty corner.
In the last quarter, the legs of the Dutch internationals seemed to get heavier, making Ireland increasingly dangerous. In the end, Brink had to fish for a shot on the turn by Ben Nelson (4-1). The second goal at 5-2 was particularly painful for him. A tip-in on goal knocked Brink, falling backwards, over his own goal line. ‘That may have looked gnarly. But that ball probably would have gone in anyway,’ reads his sober analysis. He won’t let himself be fooled, that much is clear. His debut leaves him with a good feeling.
Hidde Brink played his first international match against Ireland on Thursday. Photo: Willem Vernes
I am slowly trying to get into the head of the national coach .
That he now has the role of underdog is something he secretly enjoys, Brink admits. It gives him the chance to work his way up step by step in the lee. ‘The pressure is not necessarily on me yet. I can just do my thing. I like that position. Such a first international, with all the bells and whistles, that takes some getting used to. It’s up to me to take the chances I get. Maybe not as many as Maurice and Derk get. But when they come, I have to be there. That’s how I’m slowly trying to get into the head of the national coach. That’s all I can do.’
by Hockey.nl
