The Dutch men’s hockey team managed to deliver an ultimate performance yesterday by winning gold at the Olympic Games. However, the focus was not entirely on the party atmosphere afterwards. A fight between Duco Telgenkamp and the German goalkeeper marred the whole thing.
For the first time since 2000, the Dutch hockey players managed to win Olympic gold again, but in the end it was mainly about the quarrel between Telgenkamp and Jean-Paul Danneberg. The German media reacted with horror to Telgenkamp’s action, while the Dutch also reacted with understanding.
Little brawl
The incident took place after Telgenkamp scored the decisive goal in the shoot-outs. Telgenkamp then ran to the German keeper, made a soothing gesture and tapped his helmet. The explanation for this behavior was in statements made before the match. For example, Danneberg had said that the Dutch team would be afraid of the German team. The Germans reacted furiously to the action, which led to a brawl.
Below you see the moment:
Response from Germans
Afterwards Niklas Wellen said: ‘It is the most unsportsmanlike behavior I have ever seen from a winner. He is having the best moment of his life. He wins gold at the Olympic Games, but he still runs towards our goalie, who is lying on the ground and in tears’
However, 36-year-old Dutch goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak found the behavior understandable: ‘Don’t talk about your opponent like that. We are not ideal sons-in-law. You have to be a bit dirty.’ However, national coach Jeroen Delmée was less pleased with the behavior. ‘He should never touch a player from the opponent. It has unnecessarily gotten out of hand.’
There is also a lot of talk on Twitter about what Telgenkamp did. Nico Dijkshoorn know: “Score the winning point and immediately screw up everything that is Olympic by humiliating the German goalie. Forever a stain on this victory. Also such a tragic action. Tapping the goalie against his mask and putting a finger in front of his mouth. Too bad they won.” Other people enjoy the action:
Can someone please deliver today’s Bild-Zeitung to the hockey men’s breakfast table? I think this piece, almost a page in size, will be framed and hung above Duco’s bed 😂
Response from Duco Telgenkamp
Telgenkamp also admits that he shouldn’t have done it. ‘I don’t need much to be provoked.’:
