The Netherlands:

It is starting to become a nice tradition. After a big tournament we make a team with the editors of Veldhockey.nl with the stars of the tournament. We would like to present your two dream teams with the Allstars of the last European championship. We start with the women, the men will follow tomorrow.

Goal: Clara Pérez (Spain)
The goalkeeper of Athletic Terrassa was named the best keeper of the tournament at the European Championship. She was the only real first choice in the top three countries. Both keepers alternated with finalists in the Netherlands and Germany. Clara Pérez was the undisputed number one with Spain, she didn’t miss this European championship for a minute. Moreover, she had a large share on the bronze medal, by claiming a leading role in the consolation final against Belgium. There she considered one shoot-out after the other by the Belgians and also stopped two penalties.

Defense: Sanne Koolen (the Netherlands), Selin Ouz (Germany), Lisa Post (the Netherlands)
She is the silent power of the orange. Rarely comes forward and has “playing in the service of the team” to an art. With the exception of a tiny slip, Sanne Koolen played a great tournament. Rarely stable she led the defense of the Netherlands. In addition to Koolen, we choose Selin Ouz. Internationally seasoned, fast and good in duels and still one of the best defenders in the world.

Too bad for Germany: Ouz played her last tournament and will concentrate on her life as a doctor. The three-man defense-We dare with these three Namur-Wordt completed by Lisa Post. She was both in the back and defensive Midden-Midden with the Orange this tournament. A beacon of calmness, also hardly to be in default and with the lung capacity of a tank. As the national coach Raoul Ehren said, she can run back to our hotel after a competition. This EC, we hardly came across better defenders than the Post Express.

Sanne Koolen. Photo: Willem Vernes

Midfield: Pien Sanders (Netherlands), Xan de Waard (Netherlands), Yibbi Jansen (Netherlands), Lucia Jiménez (Spain)
Yes, a lot of orange in this midfield. But they are all explained and defensible – at least we think so. Let’s start with Pien Sanders. Fully played as a midfielder this tournament and did this with an unstoppable drive. It was also her first tournament as a captain, and she showed that cartwiel role that every match at the European Championship. The fact that she adorned her anniversary game (150 caps, after the group game with Germany) with two goals made her tournament all the more memorable.

We really couldn’t ignore Yibbi Jansen. The top scorer of the tournament that was also crowned best player to her own discomfort. Her corner was of capital value for the Dutch in the semi -final against Spain. We thought of Xan de Ward for a little longer. She was looking a bit at the start of the tournament. Less dancing with the ball than we are used to. But Dead made up for that in the last competition, where she and Sanders took the Netherlands by the hand in a difficult phase.

Pien Sanders after her goal against Germany. Photo: Willem Vernes

Next to the Orange Trio is a place for Lucia Jiménez. The technically gifted midfielder of Spain is a player for whom you will come to the stadium. Then you have to go to Mannheimer HC, because Jiménez earns her life there.

Attack: Patricia Alvarez (Spain), Frédérique Matla (the Netherlands), Sophia Schwabe (Germany)
When we started making this line -up, the name of Patricia Alvarez was written down very quickly. Because to be honest: not many players can excel against the Netherlands. Well, Alvarez did with her masterly high backhand against the Dutch, who made it 0-1. Earlier she also scored an important goal against Belgium in the group stage.

Patricia Alvarez Proost after her goal for Spain against the Netherlands. Photo: Willem Vernes

Frédérique Matla offers the Dutch touch at the front. Or maybe just a little behind, hanging around and getting the ball a lot. She finds that freer role better than that of Deep Striker. Anyway, a striker who can do anything. From rock-hard shooting to subtle rebounding, Matla showed all this European championship. The last place is for Sophia Schwabe in Germany. The only 22-year-old striker was not bothered by stage arrangement on this EC. With two goals and an assist in the opening match of Germany, her tournament was soon a success. So Schwabe is blessed with TorinstinktBut also has a good action in her sleeve. A player who still has a bright future for her.

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