Dutch women greats Eva Drummond-De Goede and Margot van Geffen are shock omissions from the Oranje’s squad ahead of this summer’s Paris Olympics.
National coach Paul van Ass’ decision on Tuesday is set to bring an end to the glittering international careers of Drummond-De Goede, 35, and 34-year-old Van Geffen.
Drummond and Van Geffen are numbers two and three in the Dutch all-time rankings with 266 and 265 international matches respectively. The duo won Olympic gold at London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 – Drummond also won gold at Beijing 2008 – and three world titles in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
“It is not easy to tell internationals with such an enormous track record that they are no longer part of the Dutch team,” Van Ass said.
‘These are obviously difficult conversations and emotional moments. Both players have meant a lot to Dutch and international hockey and are an example to many.
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“We are extremely grateful to them for that. But my job as national coach is to select the very best players for the Olympic Games together with my staff. Unfortunately, we believe that Eva and Margot no longer belong there.’
In January of this year, Van Ass also dropped veteran Lidewij Welten, the 33-year-old forward having netted 95 goals over nearly 250 internationals.
As they go for a defence of their title in Paris, captain Xan de Waard is back from a foot injury and goalkeeper Julia Remmerswaal also returns. From the Dutch Juniors, Eline Jansen (Kampong), Daantje de Kruijff (Hurley) and Mikki Roberts (Tilburg) have been invited to train.
