Paris — “It is no longer about tactics. But about behaviour, charisma and fighting,” Dutch coach Jeroen Delmee said before their semi-final clash with Spain, with the Oranje’s former coach Max Caldas in their corner.
The Dutch adhered to all three with aplomb as they strolled into the Olympic men’s final for the first time since London 2012. They are now one match away from winning their first Olympic or world title since Sydney 2000.
They reached the gold medal showdown courtesy of a 4-0 victory, scoring in each quarter. It included a thunderbolt, second quarter strike from captain Thierry Brinkman with his first goal of the tournament.
Brinkman revealed it could have been a career-best goal. “It was a bullet, it hit the sweet spot,” he said.
“I was waiting for that moment for the whole tournament because I have had a bit of bad luck in the (circle area, with) all the balls not coming to my stick. But I was waiting for his moment and you have to keep patience as an international striker. The most important ball is the next ball.”
It could have been so different if Spain had scored within five minutes when Marc Reyne tried to deftly place a looping deflection which came his way in the circle. He was completely unmarked, with Pirmin Blaak’s pads saving the Dutch.
Luis Calzado couldn’t get enough of his pads in the way as the Netherlands won a penalty stroke six minutes later from a Spanish foul on Tjep Hoedemakers’ stick. Janssen slotted home.
If Janssen’s stroke was about placement, his team-mate Brinkman’s was about pure power. With their sixth circle entry, Brinkman was fed from a rebound and drilled a forehand as if ripping a driver off the tee. Bryson Dechambeau would have nodded in appreciation with the purity and shoulder muscle power employed as the Spanish defence and Calzado stood rooted to the spot.
Moments after Thijs van Dam had struck at Calzado, he latched on to a free ball in the circle and struck sweetly into the far corner past the Spanish No.1 just after half-time.
Spain had no answer, despite holding the better possession and limiting the Dutch to one penalty corner to their six. Duco Telgenkamp added gloss with 10 minutes left when he volleyed in for a Dutch fourth.
Now for that first major title for 24 years.
“In this tournament, when you can win a quarter-final against Australia and a semi-final at the Olympics, we know exactly what we’re doing,” added Brinkman.
“We are going to analyse this game very well. We have been working for many years with each other now. We know exactly what to do. The final will be a close game for sure. But we know how to finish games.”
Spain future looks bright
Thirteen of the sixteen Spanish were playing their first Olympics in Paris. Max Caldas also had the youngest squad at these Games. More so after captain and No 1 runner Alvaro Iglesias, with an Olympics under his belt, broke his hand in third Pool match.
There have been some barren years since Spain reached the 2008 Olympic semi-final. Their last major run came at the EuroHockey 2019 with a silver medal, while in the previous two Games they had placed in the last eight.
Spain were unlucky to be 4-0 losers in their first Pool game. A 2-0 win over Germany in their next game underlined the work of Caldas. Game management was superb as they ousted Belgium 3-2 in the quarters. Fit and well drilled, the Spain programme looks in good stead ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Stat Attack
The Netherlands have never lost to Spain at the Olympic Games, with five wins now and four draws. The most memorable meeting at the Games between the two sides took place at the Atlanta final in 1996 when the Dutch prevailed
