The third world title in a row caused considerable emotions among the hockey players, who have won just about everything there is to win in recent years. The Orange squad had a turbulent year and the run-up to the World Cup was therefore far from flawless.
“These are certainly the dots on the i”, said interim national coach Jamilon Mülders after the 3-1 win over Argentina in front of Ziggo Sport’s camera. “It was a dream final and it was clear to everyone that it would be hard in the beginning. The first six to eight minutes was survival and after that we played top hockey and did it very business.”
After the passage of time, many emotions were released, and certainly also with Mülders, for whom it was his last game as national coach. The coach couldn’t contain his tears and even went down on his knees along the sidelines.
Mülders will be replaced by Paul van Ass. “The book is now closed, I am still the national coach for one minute”, he joked just before midnight. Mülders had to replace Alyson Annan after it was established that there was no good climate at the team for years and had six months to prepare the Orange for the World Cup.
“In January and February we were dead,” said the coach. “I’m so proud of this team and how we all did this year. And playing in this atmosphere was a gift to everyone.”
Eva de Goede seemed to miss the World Cup, but she was there after a serious knee injury. The 33-year-old routine did not want to reveal much about her future plans. “I had a lot of time to think about what I was going to do,” she referred to her rehabilitation. “But I still don’t know. I’m going to enjoy the fact that I was here now. I really enjoyed it again and think it’s so clever of us.”
For Marloes Keetels (29) it was her last World Cup anyway. “If I had been allowed to write it out, this would have been the scenario. It’s been a difficult year, but we did it. I’m very proud of the way we have embraced each other as a team. I think this is the most beautiful world title is.”