The Dutch handball players started the World Cup well with a 41-26 victory over Argentina. With the return of Yvette Broch (32) and the debut of 18-year-old Loïs van Vliet, the match had special moments.
Broch was brought on by national coach Per Johansson immediately after the break when Argentina was already behind 20-14 against the Dutch women in Frederikshavn, Denmark. After a pass from the excellent Dione Housheer, the tall circle runner immediately scored a goal. It was Broch’s first in an orange shirt after years of absence. The player, who finally joined the group after the serious knee injury of Merel Freriks from Emmen, looked as if she had never been away.
But that was the case. For example, Broch, who plays for the Hungarian Györi, was missing from the Dutch team that became world champion in Japan in 2019. At the time, she had had enough of the tough handball life and had taken a period of rest. After she was active again as a player, Broch also did not go to the Tokyo Olympics. She did not want to be vaccinated against corona.
‘Merel’s injury created a new situation’
Broch did not let national coach Johansson persuade her to return to the Dutch team for a long time, but after Freriks’ injury she changed tack. Broch: “Due to her injury so shortly before the World Cup, a new situation arose. I had a good conversation with Per (Johansson, ed.) afterwards. It feels good from both sides. There was an itch in me that said: let’s go.”
Due to the tough season at her club and the mental and physical strain, the circle player had always held off returning to the Dutch team. “My body and mind sometimes need some rest and then I can peak again,” Broch said. “The situation is a bit different now. I had my rest and did not participate in the training camp with the Dutch team. I could now get into it in an ideal way.”
Argentina is no match for the Netherlands
Broch was valuable in several ways in the first World Cup match against Argentina, which did its best but was not a match for the Dutch team. She scored a second goal. But the Dutch coverage in particular, which showed some gaps in the first half, benefited from the defense of the long circle player. She worked closely with, among others, Groningen captain Lois Abbingh and Kelly Dulfer, who played for DOS in Emmer-Compascuum in the distant past.
With Tess Lieder in goal for Yara ten Holte, the Netherlands increased the pace in the second half and continued to distance themselves from Argentina. That was not surprising given the difference in strength between the two teams. Abbingh had her sights on edge again and threw four cannonballs behind the Argentinian keeper.
Estavana Polman on a roll on the left corner
Another veteran Estavana Polman was also able to enjoy herself to the full, despite her ‘knee of a 60-year-old’. She scored seven goals, including several as a left corner player via fast breaks. Polman played in an unusual position for her due to the absence of Zoë Sprengers on the left front, who was in the stands with some complaints.
As a result, Johansson, who made many substitutions against Argentina, was also able to let 18-year-old Loïs van Vliet make her World Cup debut on the left. The Dutch team was assured of victory well before the end in the first group match at the World Cup, in which Congo is the second opponent on Saturday. Van Vliet scored the last two Dutch goals, after which the victory was a fact 41-26. Traditionally, the victory was celebrated with shouting and shouting.
A nice start
“This is a nice start,” said Estavana Polman at Viaplay. “A first match like that is always a bit of income. Then it’s nice that we win big. I sprinted a lot. We can play the breakouts against such teams. Although 26 goals against is too many, but it is the first match. It will be alright.”