Dutch women ready to take on Spain

First place in Group 4 of Women’s EHF EURO 2014 Qualification is at stake when Netherlands and Spain go head to head twice this month. Both teams have already all but secured their spots at the finals tournament in Hungary and Croatia by recording two comfortable wins each over Italy and Turkey last October.

Spain edged Netherlands on goal difference two years ago to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, but the Dutch are confident they can topple the southwestern Europeans this time. Their first match is in Rotterdam on March 26, before they meet again in Logrono four days later.

Netherlands failed to live up to expectations by finishing 13th at the World Championship in Serbia three months ago. Nevertheless, head coach Henk Groener will stick to nearly the same squad for the double-header against Spain. 

Dalfsen’s Sharina van Dort has made way for VOC Amsterdam’s Michelle Goos, and VfL Oldenburg’s Tess Wester has been called up as a third goalkeeper.

Sports and education

Groener initially overlooked DOS back player Kelly Dulfer but added her after Dalfsen’s Fabienne Logtenberg pulled out. Approaching her degree in medicine, Logtenberg’s study at the moment doesn’t allow her to take part.

“I’ve always been trying to combine playing handball with studying,” the 22-year-old Logtenberg said. “I made the choice to put my study first a long time ago. It’s been a privilege for me to act at a high level in both sports and education.”

Logtenberg was voted the most valuable player of the Dutch domestic league last season and she played her first major tournament for Netherlands in Serbia. 

“I think we played well in the preliminary round against France and Montenegro despite losing. Against Brazil (in the first knock-out round) we went down in a match where we didn’t show our best. I think there was more in it for us,” admitted the line player.

Tough opponent

Spain will be “a tough opponent” for the Netherlands, Logtenberg said: “We have to set something straight against them. In 2012, we came up one goal short in Olympic qualifying as Croatia beat Spain in the last game. It makes us even more fired up to win this time. 

“Getting to the EURO at the end of the year is very important, especially after Netherlands had to give back the right to host EURO 2012.”

Qualifying for EURO 2014 might also lead to increased funding for the sport from the national Olympic movement NOC*NSF, and could boost the Dutch chances for a favourable draw in qualification for the 2016 Olympics.

The squad

Dutch coach Henk Groener has nominated the following 18 players for the games against Spain:

Goalkeepers: Marieke van der Wal (Cergy Pontoise Handball '95), Tess Wester (VfL Oldenburg), Jasmina Jankovic (Frisch Auf Göppingen)

Wing players: Debbie Bont (HC Leipzig), Ailly Luciano (Metz Handball), Martine Smeets (Thüringen HC), Michelle Goos (Succes Schoonmaak/VOC), Angela Malestein (HSG Blomberg-Lippe)

Line players: Yvette Broch (Metz Handball), Danick Snelder (Thüringer HC), Kelly Dulfer (Schuler Afbouwgroep/D.O.S.)

Backcourt players: Lois Abbingh (VfL Oldenburg), Laura van der Heijden (VfL Oldenburg), Jessy Kramer (Vipers Kristiansand), Nycke Groot (FC Midtjylland), Sanne van Olphen (Sonderjysk), Estavana Polman (Team Esbjerg), Lynn Knippenborg (Sercodak/Dalfsen)