He was an integral part of the national team for many years. The fact that Joep de Mol (27) was not included in the World Cup selection at the beginning of this year came as a slap in the face to him. After the hard news from national coach Jeroen Delmee, the hockey life of the defender from Berkel-Enschot changed. In a positive sense that is.
Joep had not taken into account the news that he would not go to the World Cup. The rejection therefore hurt the Brabander. He had lost the competition to the younger generation. “Setbacks shape you as a person. As painful as it was, in the end it helped me as a hockey player.”
We can see Joep as a typical Dutch defender. Not only eliminate the opponent, but also contribute offensively. “I have always had the drive to be very good on the ball. I am a defender, but I am known for my game with the ball. I felt I had only played a good game if I dribbled forward a few times. But my defensive duties became less important because of that. I always work hard, but it sometimes looked a bit casual.”
“I’ve rolled up my sleeves.”
National coach Jeroen Delmee then tackled him and left him out of the World Cup selection. that was a wake-up call for Joep. “I rolled up my sleeves and took the field with a different attitude. The main goal now is not to give my opponent any space. If it can be offensive, I sometimes go along.” In his own words, he is now a better defender than ever.
And that was also seen by the national coach. Due to his development, Joep was brought back to the Dutch team for the European Championship. The Netherlands will play its first match against France on Saturday. “I am now a better defender on the field. As painful as it was that I had to miss the World Cup, as a hockey player it helped me. I am one step further on all fronts, and that has now been rewarded.”
“If there’s anything, I’ll say it.”
With his 27 years and 128 international matches, Joep is one of the most experienced players in Orange. With, among other things, two European Championship titles in his pocket, he knows what is expected at the top. “I am not shy and like to be in the foreground. If there’s anything, I’ll say it. And there are more guys in the team who take the lead.”
“The great thing about our selection is that no one is very clearly above the group, but that we are equal. Whether you have 20, 50 or 100 international matches to your name, we are very close. We all want to grab the European Championship title and also look at 2024. The Olympic Games in Tokyo were not a success, for Paris we have to put everything aside for a year.”
“There’s no reason to ever go to another club.”
He is not only ambitious with Orange, also with ‘his’ Red & White. “It’s my club, I don’t know why I should ever have to go to another club. I’d rather be champion here one more time than three times in a different shirt.”