Paris — “The Dutch players need a very good day to score four goals against us,” Jean-Paul Danneberg, the Germany goalkeeper, said after the Netherlands had won their semi-final 4-0. He added: “So I think we have a mountain, and they will have big problems to climb us.”
He had also claimed in some quarters that “the Dutch are really scared.”
And so, when Danneberg failed to shut out Duco Telgenkamp’s final shoot-out goal, as the Dutch won their first major title for 24 years, the Oranje ran towards the German No.1 and put his index finger to his lips before tapping his helmet and being pushed away by the on-field umpire.
It was as big a ‘shush’ in a major hockey showpiece as you could deliver. It then sparked unsavoury scenes following an enthralling ending to the Olympic men’s hockey final.
From a distance, German forward Niklas Wellen then sprinted over to the Dutch team who were celebrating with their goalkeeper hero Pirmin Blaak, who had saved three German attempts.
A scuffle broke out on the baseline as Wellen and Telgenkamp clashed before being separated. Telgenkamp also stuck his tongue out at the incensed World Cup winner.
The Dutchman was twice roundly booed when he collected his gold medal.
“In hindsight, I shouldn’t have gone to him. I regret that. I also apologise,” Telgenkamp said afterwards. “I should have let it go and it wasn’t very smart. But it’s also a bit the nature of the beast. I can be very cool-headed, but I can also let myself go. Is that part of it?”
On the Danneberg comments, he added: “He affected me personally. Sports are not business, it doesn’t take much to be provoked. That’s how I go into the match. I felt a bit offended.”
Next summer’s EuroHockey Championships happen to be in Germany and the home support will not forget this incident with the Kampong man.
Dannebeg said: “It seems like quite a few fuses have blown. My sincere condolences for such unsportsmanlike behaviour.”
German chancellor Olaf Scholz was in the stands at Yves-du-Manoir, with fans far outnumbered by the wave of Dutch support.
The women’s team will aim for a Dutch double on Friday night when they take on China.
Who said what on the men’s final:
“Emotions are part of the game, but he still needs to get used to a few rules of international hockey, he’s still very young. You should never touch another player, unfortunately the emotions got the better of him.”
Dutch coach Jeroen Delmee
“We deserved to win the gold medal. It was an incredibly close match that came down to the shoot-out. The Dutch team had the luck today, but our overall performance was strong. I think it is phenomenal that we made it to two finals at major sports events (World Cup 2023, Paris 2024) and won major knockout games.”
Germany’s Christopher Ruhr
“I said to my parents and my girlfriend that I wanted to retire. But I looked in the eyes of the guys and I think they won’t let me retire. So, maybe you will see me again.”
Dutch keeper Pirmin Blaak
Storm in a teacup! No doubt the purists will show their quiet disdain yet the drums of this hockey rivalry are beating louder than ever before after tonight! Absolutely love it! Dare say we need more of it for our lovely sport! Bring on the Euros!
I was pretty shocked to see this kind of unsporting conduct in the Olympics. Especially since most other athletes have really been embracing the Olympic spirit and hugged with their opponents after the competitions. Is this what field hockey is like? Then we perhaps don’t need it at the Olympics. But one also can’t help wondering how this disgraceful behavior will be received in the Netherlands. I have the feeling that the athlete in question knows people in high places back home who will pat him on the back for slapping the peaceful international society in the face. If this would put his career in danger, why on Earth would he have done it?
Germans talk and tuant a lot before the match and then start crying about sportsmanship when they lose. typical snakelike German behavior
Lame excuse. Totally unnecessary, lack of sportsmanship and silly behavior of the Dutchman Duco Telgenkamp.
The German goalie said something “I bet they are afraid” before the match. Which is clearly a potshot but that’s all it is. And nobody would have batted an eye if Telgenkamp had waited until after the match and then said “In the end the Germans were the ones that were afraid”. Not only and legitimate but also an accurate comment. But he chose a physical confrontation in a moment of weakness instead which is something totally different.
Dont take it too serious!!! German goalkeeper teased a lot before the game, disrespecting the Dutch, so it all came out in that last shootout, fair play!
Look at his shirt, there is 74 on it.
That’s one way how you provoke the Dutch and he said things before the match.
The Netherlands against Germany will never be in good sportsmanship
As a dutchie, I found his behavior disgusting. Winning with magnanimity is a core value of the Olympic Games, and to show such unsportsmanlike behavior goes against everything TeamNL is trying to bring to the Games. His interview afterwards also showed little remorse. I was in the stands for this match, and I’ll admit I booed right along with the others. Gross conduct!
Unfortunately,
this silly behaviour of one single Dutch “Sportsman” follows a certain scheme, such as the behaviour of Franck Rijkaard who spitted on Rudy Voeller during a football match in 1990.
It is too sad that these kind of events risk to be overgeneralized on the German end (“foul play of the Dutch” in general, which is NOT at all the case).
If I were a Dutchman, I would NOT search for excuses for Mr. Telgencamp; certain things cannot be excused … .
While it’s not particularly sporting, Danneberg lit the fire before with his poophousery and a certain German pin up forward seems to get away with hitting people in the head but is barely sanctioned. It adds spice to the Euros and might generate more interest.
It all adds to the pantomime story telling for future events but unlikely the FIH will do anything anyway as they have no backbone.
Holland overall have finally delivered after years of fragility and probably were the best side over the tournament.
Kampong had however better hope the EHL final is in Holland again.
From one who was not rooting for either team and nothing against either team, it was a really sad commentary and an international stain on the Netherlands for his behavior. Teams will taunt each other before and after games, but to behave that way, including physical confrontation, after winning, is just poor behavior and cannot be condoned or explained away.
What Duco Telgenkamp did was the lowest of low-class behavior. Not just inappropriate, he was disrespectful to all who embrace the good in sports and Olympic ideals. This was the Olympics, the purpose of which is to bring people from all countries together in the spirit of sportsmanship. Duco Telgenkamp was the exact opposite of that. He won the gold medal for Netherlands, but individually proved himself to be a total loser.