Nastassia Syrayezhka, Belarus’ captain, tells The Hockey Paper how her side overcame Holland to upset the odds and lift the Euro indoor title in 2020

What did victory mean for Belarus?
It was very important for us. Before we were two times bronze medalists, once silver medalists. Finally we won the Championship. Our hard work, our desire proves that you can play and beat the top European teams.

How crucial was Herman Kruis to your success?
Herman has done a lot, both for the team players and for Belarus hockey, so it means a lot to us. He completely changed our mentality, our mind, taught me to believe in myself, to fight and not to give up until the last second. He taught us during games, in training, in meetings, to concentrate fully on hockey.