The Netherlands shows character and beats Montenegro
The English team, plagued by the corona virus, showed characters in the main phase of the European Championship this afternoon and defeated group mate Montenegro 30-34. Substitute Thijs van Leeuwen was called forward as ‘MOTM’ after the hour in Budapest.
After 10-6, the Orange squad, where the infected national coach Erlingur Richardsson was replaced by assistant Edwin Kippers, was back in the game. It was a substitute under the bar Van Leeuwen who beat the national team with stops boost Worried. On the other side, another replacement, Tommie Falke, who flew in, took care of the first tie (11-11) with his third.
Above forty percent
Via, among others, nine-time goalscorer Kay Smits and Dani Baijens, the Netherlands rested at 16-18. In the second half, Montenegro came back within ten minutes to 21-22.
Again it was Van Leeuwen, who played in the BENE-League for the Belgian Sporting Pelt, who managed to help the Orangemen over a difficult point. In 45 minutes under the bar at the European Championship in Hungary, the supersub in his second international match to a maximum of fourteen stops (44 percent).
Luc Steins
After Niko Blaauw’s European Championship debut, Luc Steins made the first difference of five goals (25-30). Under the wings of the Limburg playmaker of PSG, the Netherlands managed to keep a cool head in the final phase. On Monday, the national team will face world champions Denmark.
Photo: FotoReza