The Dutch junior team lost the European Championship final to Spain last Saturday in Terrassa. The Netherlands took an early lead, but let Spain take the lead in the match and lost 1-3. At the previous European Championship, the Dutch juniors were the winners.

After the defeat, the players of the Dutch junior team ran onto the field after the horn had sounded. Tears rolled down the cheeks of Myles Bokens. Dylan Lussier found Jan van’t Lande in his arms. Gijs ter Braak hugged Matthijs van der Velen. National coach Jesse Maheu came onto the field and patted all the players on the head. Losing the European Championship final was tough.

The Netherlands had already played against Spain in the group stage. The Dutch juniors played a great first half (3-0), but drew (3-3). In the EC final, the Netherlands did not reach the level of the first half of the group match against Spain. Winning was not in the cards now, because the Netherlands could no longer make up the deficit.

Early goal from Pepijn van der Heijden

The Netherlands started the European Championship final strongly. Defender Pepijn van der Heijden, the man who scored the first goal for the Netherlands in the semi-final against Germany (3-2), scored immediately after four minutes of hockey, in the Leeuwenkuil. In front of the stands with a predominantly Spanish audience, he took his first penalty of the match, directly against the ropes: 1-0. It was the start the Dutch junior team had hoped for, after captain Timo Bors had missed two penalties.

While the Spanish crowd immediately fell silent, the Dutch U20s celebrated small successes, such as successful defensive work, over and over again as if they had scored a goal. It was wonderful to see how passionately they played this tournament. The Netherlands quickly tried to extend their lead and lost a chance for 2-0 via Finn van Beijnen.

In the second quarter, the Netherlands lacked the quality of the first and the Spanish started the match better. The Dutch gave away some corners to the Dutch U21s and made some mistakes. Goalkeeper Nicky Verbeek cleverly held off a Spanish goal for as long as possible with two important saves. But the equalizer was increasingly in the air. Two minutes before the end of the first half, Thijs Bakker passed the ball between his legs, which led to a third Spanish penalty. Bruno Avila deservedly put the ball on the board: 1-1.

Dutch youth players seek solace in each other after losing the European Championship final. Photo: WorldSportPics/Frank Uhlenbrock

From 1-1 to 1-3

In the third quarter, the Netherlands got into deeper trouble. First, Spain pushed a penalty into the post. Then, the Netherlands got off to a good start, but a moment later it was 1-2. The Spaniard Pere Amat put the Dutch defense on edge beautifully. On the 23-meter line, he broke through from the left. He passed Casper van der Veen and Pepijn van der Heijden and slid the ball into the far corner: 1-2.

The Dutch juniors tried to make up for it, but had a hard time against Spain. Miles Boeckens was the most dangerous with a shot and a powerful push, but the equalizer did not come. Boeckens spoke in the Dutch circle between the third and fourth quarter and said: “Fifteen minutes”. Fifteen minutes. Think carefully. That is too long. Hold on to each other. We are going to do it.

But no matter how hard the Netherlands tried to equalize in the last quarter, the score was not 2-2. And with eight minutes to go, things went wrong for the Dutch juniors. Spain responded on the other side of the field and Nicolas Alvarez gave the ball on his stomach against the board: 1-3. Shortly afterwards, national coach Jesse Maheu replaced goalkeeper Verbeek with an extra player. The Dutch juniors kept pumping the ball into the circle, but had to settle for silver.