Monique Tijsterman feels good about herself. She is having a great time with the Austrian team. So much so that she recently decided to emigrate permanently. In the land of the Alps and the apple strudel History repeats itself for the Dutch.
“Years ago I joined the Dutch association and we mainly had to build up. The same process is now happening in Austria. I take the knowledge I gained in the Netherlands with me to them. I want to build, help and share my experiences. That makes me happy.”
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Austria is already certain of the main phase of the tournament
What also makes her happy? That Austria, like the Netherlands, is already certain of the main phase after two matches. “That was our goal prior to the tournament. Until a few years ago, it was not at all self-evident that Austria would be in a final tournament. Now we have reached the next phase, even though two players dropped out injured just before the tournament. One of them is our captain, but the other girls fight like lions. I am proud of that. Although we now want more, of course. We can dream big, right?”
And yet it also felt a little strange when she arrived in the Netherlands for the World Cup. When the tournament was brought to Rotterdam, Tijsterman was still working for the Dutch association and was involved in the entire process. “I experienced the first steps in organizing this tournament up close.” She is silent for a few seconds. “It’s special how life can turn out sometimes. It makes it extra special for me to be here and play against ‘you’ tonight. I’m really looking forward to it.”
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Tijsterman knows the Dutch team very well
In preparation for Tuesday’s match, she watched a lot of video footage of the Dutch team, but Tijsterman might as well not have had to do that. She knows most of the girls inside and out. “With my eyes closed, I see how certain girls turn away, how they set up an attack and where they shoot when they have free space. I can therefore prepare my girls very well.”
On the other hand, Tijsterman is also realistic. “The players of the Netherlands obviously know me as well as I know them. But let’s be honest. Of course I go into this match to win, but normally the Netherlands will be the group winner. I make no secret of the fact that ‘you’ will probably win this match. We are a team under construction, the Dutch team has simply moved on. We don’t have to make a fuss about that.”
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Yet she warns her former team. “I think there is a balanced team. Recently I even had to think about 2019 when I went through the selection of the Dutch team. Then the Netherlands became world champions with a mix of experienced and young girls. You actually have that again now. I don’t think many countries like to play against the Netherlands, but I also see a big challenge.”
Tournament in your own country adds extra pressure
Tijsterman refers to the pressure on the shoulders of our compatriots these weeks. “Performing under pressure was the problem in the last final tournaments. That simply did not go well for you. Now the group stage is almost over and everyone was still calm, but in fact the tournament is only now ‘really’ starting for the Netherlands. I am very curious to see how ‘you’ will deal with the pressure that will now come.”
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She explains that a tournament in your own country is unique. The feeling that an entire nation is behind you and cheers you on every match is indescribable, according to Tijsterman. She experienced it herself last year at the European Championships organized by Austria. “But we must not forget that it also creates a lot of extra pressure. Not only the pressure that the players already put on themselves, but what about the pressure from the press and the feeling of not wanting to disappoint the NHV. I am sure that these kinds of things affect those girls. They have to keep a cool head and that is really not easy.”
Tijsterman is in contact with Dutch players
Yet Tijsterman hopes with all her heart that the Netherlands will succeed. “I wish those girls the world. I still have contact with some of them from time to time. Es and Ans (Estavana Polman and Angela Malestein, ed.) gave me a restaurant tip last week. Then I immediately thought about the Handball Academy again.”
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“I trained those girls there and I was a fairly strict coach. I know that about myself. Lately I have been hearing more and more Es and Ans were up to together without me knowing. That makes me laugh, I thought I had a firm grip on things, but apparently those two managed to pull off all sorts of things. Examples? Haha, I’ll keep that to myself.”
She concludes: “Of course it is my dream to become world champion with Austria, but we have to be honest, we are not that far yet. Let the Netherlands win that world title this year, then I will also be very satisfied.”