Noorderling29

Dutch athletes know that our Olympic Committee sets a higher bar. I don’t know the requirements in this particular case, but it would be something like one or two top 8 finishes in events like the World Champs or World cups.

Pretty sure the Dutch Olympic Committee will not use this quotum.

See post by CCB, right after yours

Very possible.

Noor Vidts: if she could not win a medal in Budapest in a weak competion, she’s never going to do it at World level. There’s a big question mark about Thiam’s return. But even then, Anna Hall must be the favorite for Gold. The Rowing LWX2 did not make it to final of the World Champs, and failed to win a quotum. The 4x400 relay Men narrowly failed to qualify for the final in Budapest: time really seems to be up for the incredible Borlee twins and Belgium has failed to find comparable replacements. The women finished 5th, and that was in a race without the Americans. Of the five Judoka’s mentioned, only one won a medal at this years World Champs. Kopecky winning 3 golds?: next year’s Road race is far less ideal for her than the one in Glasgow, she’s really not the favorite for the time trial, and her chances in the Madison are heavily influenced by if the doping suspension of her partner will stand or not. Hockey: the women are just as capable as sucker punching the Dutch in the final as finishing 7th. Also, they haven’t always been lucky in qualifying. The men failed to win their last two tournaments, and are in a bit of transition, with some of their older players retiring or not being selected. show jumping really is completely unpredictable. In Tokyo Belgium won bronze in the team event on the back of the refusal of one the French horses (IIRC). Belgium certainly has a lot of opportunities, but I once read somewhere for most teams only 1/3 of those,come to fruition.

Belgian medal tally has been below 10 since 1924, but everything’s possible I suppose. Belgium certainly has been underperforming, but the inventory of Belgian medal chances seems a bit on the optimistic side.

Hassan: European record, second all-time. Her range is incredible: from 1:56 over 800 meters to 2 hours 13 minutes in the marathon.

Belgium participated in 1968; the did not qualify but replaced Romania that withdrew.

The most probable explanation is (some) Polish fans/players misbehaving and the Dutch police subsequently overreacting. Both have been known to happen. But of course it’s always easier to take a black and white view and assume that your side is lilywhite and the other side is entirely to blame. The idea that the Dutch police either know or care what parties form the Polish government, which policies those government implements and which individuals either support or oppose that government and their behavior was somehow guided by that knowledge is rather preposterous. This could have happened with any group of supporters from any country, even our own. An independent inquiry will be held and the truth will be ascertained and blame will be apportioned. History shows that these inquiries are far from a whitewash and tend to be very critical of police behavior.

Not so strange, as in the final there are no scratch results. All three results count, so faults can not be compensated, unlike in qualifying when there are four athletes.

Belgium also lost 3-2 to Poland, but won 3-0 against Netherlands.

Dutch women played their last four matches with just 3 players

It’s Deja Vu all over again today: NL vs Can, with from my perspective hopefully a different outcome than two weeks ago.

Last week also the Dutch championships, without Suzanne Schulting. On doctor’s advice she took an extended break, and only just started training again. She will probably miss the first part of the season; for the Dutch riders the World Championships in their own country obviously is the main focus of this season.

I think the judgements of Schippers rather harsh. But evenso, sport is not a popularity contest She was not a very good loser, but that’s not unlike the majority of athletes. At least she was honest about it.

IIRC our 4 x 100 metres squad won two medals at European Championships with Schippers in the team. Not really a regular ocurrence without her. More generally, before Schippers there was a general feeling that we’re not very good at athletics and never gonna be, with sporadic successes. She proved that a Dutch athlete can be world class, and the level has been raised across the board, with success in youth competions as well. 10 years ago an athlete making it to a semi final at Worlds would be one of the stars of the team, now athletes like Peeters, Jiya and Seedo are bit players. Before Tokyo 2020 I would have considered anyone who predicted that in Athletics the Dutch team could win 7/8 medals at World level as certifiable.

Former double 200 meter World Champion (Athletics) Dafne Schippers (NL). Not very surprising as she’s been suffering from back trouble for years.

Not impossible, but it’s always better to be 22 points in front than 22 behind

We really could do with a powerful opposite, like Sloetjens used to be. Plak makes some miraculous points, but is not in the same league with the top opposites, like Boskovic or Martinez who always deliver when their teams needs them. Dambrink is still young, but I don’t think she’s the answer.

This game highlights next year’s VNL problem. A match between a team that after 2-1 has nothing to play for than perhaps pride, and is inevitably a little less motivated, and a team that has to get as much points as possible. A Dutch victory in the 5th set could be very important, points wise.

Now for the match and those all important ranking points. But really have to take those chances that come along occasionally

So: USA 27 out of 36, Poland 21 out of 36, Italy 24 out of 36.

Mission improbable for the Dutch team, but then I’m a natural born pessimist. But crazy how far the Dutch team has progressed under Koslowski, compared to last year’s disappointment at the Worlds, and the general decline of the last 4 years. Koslowski has created the nucleus of a competitive team, bringing in talented youngsters. Interesting to see how this team will progress in the run up to 2028.

Yes, but it’s probably not a long list. Men’s football springs to mind.

Crazy wild, just came home from visiting my mother in her carehome, am now watching the end of the match.