The Netherlands:

Of course Tuesday was Thierry Brinkman’s Day. The Captain of Orange played his two hundred-year-old international against Austria (5-0). Only 28 others preceded the small striker. “Actually it was terrible field hockey today.”

As one of the last on Tuesday, Brinkman ran to the mixed zone, the meeting place between press and players. There was a reason for that. He first went to visit his parents who were in the corner of the field. In the shade. The Hondenloyal Jacques and Jacqueline Brinkman had brought all kinds of things from their hometown Bilthoven to Mönchengladbach. Two Dutch flags. One with ‘Brinkie Did it’ on it. The other reads ‘200’. Then they gave their son a framed photo. Of course from the Gold Games in Paris. Until now the highlight of Brinkman’s rich career.

Images that think of yesterday, when Pien Sanders was honored 150th international appearance. The captain of the Oranje Ladies said afterwards that she had borrowed the belt from her captain of Brinkman. “It’s true what Pien said. I said she could keep it if she scored twice. I thought it was a safe deal, “Brinkman laughed.

Of course, the striker did not know that Sanders-not normally would be a goal-scoring machine-actively good for two goals. “So yes, Pien still has it. Any good story. But should have been allowed differently. I had two bracelets from the captain with me. “Jeroen Delmée once taught us that,” he laughs. Bring two of everything, boys.

It is one of the wise field hockey lessons that Brinkman has learned in the last two hundred international games. He is someone who appreciates milestones. ‘There are many stories behind that song. For years you put everything aside to reach that number. That actually starts much earlier than your first international. That is when you board the stage, but the way to it started about twenty years ago. When I started playing hockey. That became a bit more serious after just a few years – when I came to the Dutch youth selections. Those twenty years are packaged in this number of international competitions, behind which there is so much. Above all, they are many beautiful moments. I couldn’t have wished much different. ‘

Successful, after 28 seconds

The involvement of his team touches him the most on his vacation. “I felt that they wanted to make something beautiful for me today. I’m going to look forI was told in advance. To feel that the intention is actually enough for me. ‘And to be honest, his teammates made sure that Brinkman was in the spotlight.

After 28 seconds he was the end of the most beautiful attack of the evening, which ended with Brinkman via Derck de Vilder – Genius Cross Pass – and Floris Middendorp – Tight approach, good overview. “That was very beautiful. When I see analytical, this was not our best game. We were not great. It was actually terrible field hockey, with everyone in their 23-meter area and constant a high ball that often also arrived. ‘No ideal conditions for such a milestone. ‘Well, you don’t have to choose that. I had never played an anniversary match during a final tournament. I already liked that. ‘

Photo: Willem Vernes

In the club of Kruize and Lomans

He ends up in a beautiful row of only 29 internationals who also marked the two hundred markets. Just above Brinkman are, for example, Kruize (203 caps), Bram Lomans (206) and Taco van den Honert (215). Field hockey icons. That is how Brinkman, as the captain of De Gouden Oranje from Paris, can later go into the books. ‘That is for others to decide, please note. I know that very few reach this number. That is super nice and very special. This morning I thought about it myself. I thought of my 50th, 100th and 150th. The latter was in the Wagener, in the Pro League against New Zealand. ‘

He looks in the distance. Germany and Poland are already on the field for their competition. It is already time for new protagonists in the stadium. ‘It is secretly nice to assist here occasionally. It is often about performing with the team. And that goes at such a fast pace that you sometimes forget how special it is. I often hear it from ended players. That they didn’t enjoy it enough. That mode does not work to be top either. You have to be in the tunnel, the regime. You must be focused. Don’t let it go crazy. Enjoyment does not always create that mentality. But sometimes it is allowed. Occasionally.

At the beginning of 2015, Brinkman played his first international. In Cape Town, a friendly match with South Africa. Don’t know where his journey would end. “I would say that Thierry: brace yourself what is coming to you. Because you have no idea what will happen. “He says it with a big smile. “I never thought it would be so beautiful. Hopefully it will take a while. ‘