National coach Andries Jonker does not believe in generational change at the Oranjeleeuwinnen. ‘The best play, regardless of age’

National coach Andries Jonker will not drastically rejuvenate the Dutch football team after missing out on qualifying for the Olympic Games. According to him, the best continue to play, regardless of their age.

Jonker said this after the Oranjeleeuwinnen 2-0 loss to Germany in Heerenveen. Missing the Olympic Games also gradually brings an end to an unprecedentedly successful generation of Dutch football players. Lieke Martens, Sherida Spitse from Emmen, Daniëlle van de Donk and Shanice van de Sanden became European champions with the Netherlands in 2017, but are now over 30.

“We discussed in the run-up to this match that nature will do its work,” said the national coach. “A fantastic generation of players is reaching the end of their career because of their age – not all of them, but a fair number of them. The World Cup and the Olympic Games and soon the European Championship were and may be their last options. It is up to them to make the choice to stop or continue. But the one who remains the best and wants to continue playing plays for the Dutch national team. However, this unique generation has entered the final phase of their careers.”

I don’t know any players who want to quit yet

According to Jonker, the players in question are aware of this. “That motivates them all the more and makes the disappointment about missing out on the Games even greater. I haven’t received any sign yet that players want to quit.”

The national coach declared the defeat against Germany. “We had to keep the peace and, just like before against Spain, we didn’t do that enough. We lacked enough ball-holding players who remain calm. There weren’t any now. That will all be different. The girls who were there now have a lot of potential and should have done better. It did not work. Why not? Yes, that’s sports. It doesn’t always work out.”

Jonker is not going to give tired players a rest, such as during the upcoming European Championship qualifiers. “That’s not an option, no matter how much I would like it. As a team we cannot afford not to field some players. There were 25,000 people in the stands against Germany. They love us back. We have achieved this by attacking every match and by trying to play good football every time; and by trying to win and the results we achieved. We would like to keep the fans loving us that way. It would be smart to qualify immediately for the European Championships, so that we can then give players some rest in the autumn. There is a desperate need for that.”

Serious injuries due to full agenda

There are many complaints about the overcrowded football schedule for the players. This is also cited as a cause of many serious injuries. Jonker says he is not in favor of a forced generational change in his team: “The Dutch team is not a training team. In this Dutch team we choose the best players. If we don’t do that, the love for this team will disappear. We have an obligation to perform. As long as Sherida Spitse (33) is the best, she will play. But if Wieke Kaptein (18) is the best, she plays. I pay no attention to age or youth. Age is not a criterion for me at all. It’s about quality and nothing more.”

Spitse, who lives in Emmen, is not thinking about quitting yet: “I think this is the most beautiful thing there is. But we all know that you’re not going to play until you’re forty or fifty. So in that sense it already plays a role. And then other girls have to take up that role. But I don’t know when that will happen.”

Daniëlle van de Donk also wants to play the European Championship

Van de Donk (32) has already announced that he will retire before the 2027 World Cup, but, like Spitse, he wants to at least play next year’s European Championship. Van de Donk: “My goal is to participate in another final tournament, but also to train that new generation with everything I can give them.” The Dutch team’s European Championship qualifying series starts in April.

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