The orange sensation repeatedly surprises Van Domsellar: ‘It’s a natural talent’ | Currently

Daphne van Domselaer played for the boys’ team at the LSVV amateur club six years ago. Meanwhile, the goalkeeper became a sensation in the Orange squad for the European Championship in England. A story about a sober West Frisian woman who constantly surprises her environment.

It’s the summer of 2017 when there was an unknown at FC Twente’s training ground. She is seventeen years old, she has just come off the promises of Telstar and played at the highest level for the first time. Her name is Daphne van Domselaer.

When Van Domselaar engages in a positioning game, experienced players immediately approach coach Tommy Stroot. “Who did you bring in now?” said Leonie Blogis, Van Domselaer’s agent, who describes her as a “natural talent”. They were completely affected.

Despite her talent, it takes a long time before Van Domselaer starts playing football. She was only eleven years old when she registered at the LSVV Club, of Zuid-Sharoyd, near Langidijk, the West Frisian village where she grew up.

Initially van Domsellar was not allowed to play football from her parents. “Daphne was always playing with the boys, she starts to dress like a boy, and I really felt like a boy,” her mother, Ellie, told the newspaper recently. NOS. “Then I thought: If I also started playing football with the boys, that would be a lot.”

That is why van Domsellar has been involved in other sports such as kickboxing, fencing and volleyball for a long time. After she played volleyball for a few years, her mother gave her permission to play football, as she saw Van Domsellar as “sad” for not letting her go to the football field.

Daphne van Domselaer as a fifteen-year-old goalkeeper in a friendly match against Germany.

Goalkeeper for four years with boys from LSVV

The girls’ team that ended up van Dumselar does not have a permanent goalkeeper, so the players take turns standing under the crossbar. After the first time, Van Domselaer will not disappear from the goal again. Not even in the boys’ teams where you play for the next four years.

In 2016, Van Domselaar deserves to switch to the promises of Telstar, who is currently playing in the Premier League. A year later, VV Alkmaar acquired the women’s branch license and the goal is to move to Alkmaar.

Until Van Domselaer received a letter from Twente’s coach Strutt. He admired her during matches for the national youth teams and would like to include the goalkeeper’s talent in the selection of the record champion. “I was totally surprised when I called her,” she recently told Strutt. de Volkskrant.

It was Holland’s match against Germany at the European Under-19 Championship in Switzerland that convinced agent Blokhuis in 2018 to consult Van Domselaar for collaboration. “She did a lot of balls. She really excelled and made the difference. Just like she does now.”

Daphne van Domselaer has been a goalkeeper for FC Twente since 2017.

Not a big European club, but Twente

Blokhuis recognized Van Domselaar as an intelligent and intelligent woman: she has a pre-university diploma and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Technical Business Administration. “She can think logically. She has both feet on the ground: what you see is what you get. And she knows very well what she wants and what she does not want.”

This is also reflected in her career choices. According to Blojes, Van Domselaer was on the verge of turning into a “big club in the Champions League” during the winter break, far from her feat in the European Championships. But in the end, the talented goalkeeper extended her contract with FC Twente for one year.

“Her ambition is, of course, to climb to the top, but step by step,” Blochis says. “She is now the undisputed number one in FC Twente and I think she will be next season as well. The chance to play for big minutes is there.”

“Clubs often have a good story, but you also have to dare and be able to see it. Daphne wants to develop more and not end up on the bench. Sometimes it is better to wait longer, and then make the move for the absolute top.”

Daphne van Domselaer played the heroic role of the Netherlands in a duel with Switzerland.

The best clubs line up after a heroic role in the European Championship

Her real-life character Van Domselaar helped, in her words, when she suddenly had to replace Sari van Veenendaal during the European Championships. She didn’t have time to be nervous anyway due to the captain’s failure, but she also excels as a key player under the bar.

The highlight of the last group game with Switzerland, in which the Netherlands faltered after 1-1 against Switzerland. Van Domselaar keeps the orange in the match with a superb double save, including a fine shot into the corner, hitting the post. The defending champion then runs out to 4-1 and a place in the quarter-finals is secured.

“Daphne is very proud and grateful that this has now been given to her,” Blochis says. “But she’s also disappointed with Sari. On the other hand: Now she has to make sure there are no balls flying around her ears, so she can’t sit with her for long.”

This is going well for her at the moment. So good, in fact, that some of the top European clubs recently inquired into Blokhuis about Van Domsellar’s potential. Having performed in the European Championships, this time around, potential future teammates would not be surprised if Van Domsellar excels in coaching.

With van Domselaer under the crossbar, the Netherlands will play the European Championship quarter-final against France on Saturday. The match starts in Rotherham at 9pm (Netherlands time). The winner will meet Germany in the semi-finals, which were too strong for Austria 2-0 on Thursday.

Daphne van Domselaer is the new number one in the Netherlands at the moment.