Two internationals, zero objectives. Olivier Hortensius’ resume may use a lift. But the 22-year-old Rotterdam striker stunned good friend and foe this week together with his spot within the choice for the European Championship in Mönchengladbach (Aug. 8-17). “I really feel like a child in a sweet retailer, that’s how pleased I’m.
Hortensius is the one match debutant within the Dutch nationwide staff’s EC choice. His choice, with solely two worldwide matches below his belt, is already an achievement for the historical past books. That the Netherlands is touring to a title match with a striker who remains to be ready for his first worldwide aim says the whole lot about coach Jeroen Delmée’s confidence in him. Simply over a month in the past, Hortensius was even ready for his debut within the shirt of Orange.
So he didn’t have excessive expectations when the European Championship choice was introduced internally on Monday, he says. At 4 p.m., he acquired the e-mail itemizing the eighteen names Delmée had chosen for Mönchengladbach. When Hortensius scrolled down, he stumbled upon his personal identify to his amazement.
‘That morning I needed to give a clinic, so I used to be out half the day. After I obtained residence, my girlfriend was sick in mattress. I lay down along with her for some time and earlier than I knew it, it was already 4 a.m. Collectively we waited for the e-mail in suspense. After I learn my very own identify, I assumed I used to be wanting fallacious. I couldn’t imagine it. I used to be so pleased that I spontaneously jumped throughout the room, as if I had scored a aim.’
After his Orange debut in opposition to Argentina (1-1) in June, Olivier Hortensius takes a selfie with a fan at Wagener Stadium. Picture: Willem Vernes
Delmée: ‘He has developed shortly’
The penny may need dropped simply the opposite means for him, Hortensius realizes. He now fills the emptiness within the striker place created by Duco Telgenkamp’s choice to take a step again this summer time. Beforehand, Miles Bukkens appeared the dream candidate to fill the hole, however he injured his knee through the Professional League. Another choice for the striker place was Terrance Pieters, however he changed the injured Jonas de Geus in midfield.
‘Olivier is goal-oriented and technically proficient,’ Delmée reasoned his selection of Hortensius. ‘He has developed shortly. The impression he has left is convincing. That’s why I believe he deserves to go to the EC greater than different guys.’
Derk Meijer, his teammate at Rotterdam, kisses Olivier Hortensius on his brow after his debut at Wagener Stadium. Picture: Willem Vernes
Flying begin to his worldwide profession
For 5 months Hortensius needed to await his debut within the Dutch nationwide staff. When he boarded a aircraft for Sydney in January, his first massive journey with the Dutch staff led to a deception. In Australia, he suffered a hamstring harm, inflicting his first worldwide look to fall by way of.
However after his re-match in June, when he was lastly rewarded together with his first enjoying minutes at Wagener Stadium, he nonetheless had a flying begin to his worldwide profession. Already within the first minute of the match in opposition to Argentina (1-1), he fired a blazing shot on the enemy aim. Instantly the worldwide subject hockey world turned acquainted with Olivier Hortensius. His second worldwide, in London in opposition to Nice Britain (2-3 win), additionally left him with feeling.
I observed that the distinction between me and the remainder of the staff turned out to be smaller than I initially thought Olivier Hortensius
‘At first I didn’t actually know what to anticipate. I didn’t know if I may deal with the extent of these guys who performed the Olympics, ECs and World Cups. You at all times hear from others that worldwide subject hockey can’t be in comparison with an enormous league sport, that a global sport is far more like a race. And I actually skilled that as nicely. However nonetheless, I believe I confirmed in these two internationals that I can deal with the extent. In fact, there’s nonetheless sufficient about my sport to enhance. However I do discover that the distinction between me and the remainder of the staff has turned out to be smaller than I initially thought.’
His expectations of his first title match are excessive. ‘Mönchengladbach is after all near the Dutch border, so I count on plenty of Dutch followers. In a pool with Belgium and Spain, powerful but in addition lovely matches await us. It will likely be one massive subject hockey get together, I’m certain.’
