The Dutch juniors lost to Spain in the European Championship final with a score of 1-3.

The Dutch junior team lost the European Championship final to Spain last Saturday in Terrassa. The Netherlands took an early lead but allowed Spain to take the lead in the match and lost 1-3. In the previous European Championship, the Dutch juniors were the winners.

After the defeat, the Dutch junior team players ran onto the pitch after the horn sounded. Tears rolled down Myles Bokens' cheeks. Dylan Lussier found Jan van't Lande in his arms. Gijs ter Braak hugged Matthijs van der Velen. National coach Jesse Maheu came onto the pitch and patted all his players on the head. Losing the European Championship final was tough.

The Netherlands had already played against Spain in the group stage. The Dutch juniors then played a great first half (3-0), but drew (3-3). In the European Championship final, the Netherlands did not reach the level of the first half of the group match against Spain. Victory was not possible now, because the Netherlands proved unable to make up the deficit.

Early goal by Pepijn van der Heijden

The Netherlands started strongly in the European Championship final. Defender Pepijn van der Heijden, the man who scored the first goal for the Netherlands in the semi-final against Germany (3-2), scored directly after four minutes of hockey, in the Lion's Den. In front of the stands with a mostly Spanish crowd, he took his first penalty of the match, directly against the ropes: 1-0. It was the start the Dutch junior team had hoped for, after captain Timo Bors had missed two penalties.

While the Spanish crowd immediately fell silent, the Dutch U-20s celebrated small successes, such as successful defensive work, over and over again as if they had scored a goal. It was wonderful to see the passion with which they played in this tournament. The Netherlands tried to quickly extend their lead and squandered a chance to make it 2-0 through Finn van Beijnen.

In the second quarter, the Netherlands lacked the quality of the first and the Spanish started the match better. The Dutch gave away some corners to the Juniors and made some mistakes. Goalkeeper Nicky Verbeek cleverly delayed a Spanish goal for as long as possible with two important saves. But the equalizer was more and more up in the air. Two minutes before the end of the first half, Thijs Bakker passed the ball between his legs, which led to a third Spanish penalty. Bruno Avila deservedly pulled the ball on the board: 1-1.

Dutch youth team players seek comfort from each other after losing the European Championship final. Photo: WorldSportPics/Frank Uhlenbrock

From 1-1 to 1-3

In the third quarter, the Netherlands got into deeper trouble. First, Spain pushed a penalty kick inside the post. Then the Netherlands came out well, but moments later the score was 1-2. The Spaniard Pere Amat set the Dutch defence up beautifully. At the 23-meter line he broke in from the left. He passed Casper van der Veen and Pepijn van der Heijden and pushed the ball into the far corner: 1-2.

The Dutch juniors tried to make amends, but had a tough time against Spain. Miles Boeckens was the most dangerous with a shot and a powerful push, but the equaliser did not come. Boeckens spoke in the Dutch circle between the third and fourth quarters and said: “Fifteen minutes”. Fifteen minutes. Think hard. That’s too long. Hold each other. We’re going to do it.

But no matter how hard the Netherlands tried to equalize in the last quarter, the score was not 2-2. And with eight minutes to go, things got worse for the Dutch juniors. Spain responded on the other side of the field and Nicolas Alvarez passed the ball on his stomach against the board: 1-3. Shortly afterwards, national coach Jesse Maheu replaced goalkeeper Verbeek with an extra player. The Dutch juniors continued to pump the ball into the circle, but had to settle for the silver medal.