SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Lausanne, Switzerland (November 4, 2021):- Following two outstanding FIH Hockey Pro League victories against higher ranked Germany on home soil in Brussels, Belgium’s Red Panthers will aim replicate that superb form when they take on title holders and reigning Olympic, World and European champions the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
It is the second time in under a month that the neighbouring nations have faced each other at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, on the southern outskirts of the Dutch capital. On 13th October in front of 4000 fans, the imperious Dutch claimed a 2-0 win in the first FIH Hockey Pro League match of the 2021-22 season, with legendary attacker and triple Olympic gold medallist Lidewij Welten opening the scoring after just 17 seconds.
However, the contest was far from one-sided and, following Belgium’s excellent 1-0 and 3-1 triumphs over Germany on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October, the Red Panthers will be in confident mood and relishing the opportunity to challenge the finest women’s international hockey team on the planet. Under the guidance of head coach Raoul Ehren, the Dutchman who guided Den Bosch to huge success both domestically and in European competition, Belgium are clearly making big strides forward, with those triumphs over Die Danas taking them to an all-time high of 7th in the FIH World Rankings.
Whilst the Red Panthers clearly have a very exciting future ahead of them, they will know that they face an almighty challenge against Alyson Annan’s dazzling Dutch team. Annan has named nine Olympic gold medallists from Tokyo 2020 for this match, with Welten, captain Eva de Goede, Margot van Geffen, Pien Sanders and Xan de Waard amongst them.
A trio of players are set to make their senior international debuts for the Oranje, with Tessa Clasener (HDM), Fiona Morgenstern (Oranje-Rood) and Pleun van der Plas (Den Bosch) being given the chance to shine on the big stage as Annan – who in the October clash with Belgium gave debuts to Marente Barentsen and Joosje Burg, who have retained their places – continues to look at the potential stars of the future.
