A disappointing Euro for pissed off Indoor Pink Lions
Whereas they got here to Hamburg to win a medal, the Belgians missed their European assembly. They end in a really disappointing fifth place after half-hearted performances. If their ambitions have been practical, they nevertheless lacked the lucidity and aggressiveness to attain them.
JNever earlier than has the Belgian indoor group appeared so nicely ready, assured, even conquering when approaching a European assembly. But when taking inventory of the 4 days spent in northern Germany, the findings are overwhelming. The Pink Lions haven’t lived as much as expectations even when the progress is clearly noticeable. However, and that is maybe much more worrying, they by no means managed to react when the circumstances demanded it. The fifth place acquired in ache in opposition to the Czech Republic (9-7) on no account alleviates the frustration and frustration of a gaggle that would and needed to do higher.
1. An absence of lucidity .One of many first explanations for this poor efficiency is definitely the dearth of foresight throughout key moments and highlights. Throughout every of the conferences except for the inaugural match in opposition to Germany (5-5), the Belgians by no means managed to surpass themselves and discover options when the circumstances demanded it. And even when they have been in a position to depend on a Philippe Simar, once more formidable within the opposing circle with 20 targets in 6 outings, they lacked realism within the end. “I gained’t say that this event is a failure”, instantly specified Philippe Truyens, the technical director of the indoor nationwide groups. “So clearly we didn’t attain our objective however we confirmed nice issues and we made large progress. Nevertheless, we did not develop throughout the event. And I acknowledge that we’re nonetheless too truthful on a number of ranges. On this event, we at all times began our matches nicely however we ended them badly every time. We should perceive why and above all discover options to treatment it. »
2. No response and lack of vitality .An indoor recreation lasts a superb 40 minutes and the Lions have discovered this once more the onerous means, they who’ve typically delivered top quality first intervals. But it surely was typically after the break that the group bowed down and suffered the sport. Extra problematic nonetheless, they by no means knew methods to insurgent after they have been up in opposition to the wall. “It’s actually a degree that we should focus on with the gamers,” acknowledged coach Maxime Bergez bluntly. “We should take a step again on the best way we handle our conferences. But it surely’s one thing that we did higher throughout this rating assembly. We don’t at all times make the suitable choices. However we should not neglect the place we come from. Now we have already taken many steps. No query due to this fact of talking of a failure on this Euro even when we depart and not using a medal. We actually took steps ahead by way of id and hockey throughout these 4 days in Germany. It is rather encouraging by way of our course of in direction of the World Cup. However we nonetheless need to handle higher in sure conditions. That is all a part of our growth however I perceive that the skin notion just isn’t at all times constructive after what we now have been in a position to present right here. » That is all a part of our growth however I perceive that the skin notion just isn’t at all times constructive after what we now have been in a position to present right here. » That is all a part of our growth however I perceive that the skin notion just isn’t at all times constructive after what we now have been in a position to present right here. »
3. A weak home championship .One other clarification is definitely additionally the final stage of Belgian indoor competitors. The depth of the worldwide stage is a number of notches above that to which the Lions are floor. “Indoor hockey just isn’t a precedence for many gamers in our nation,” concludes Philippe Truyens, very realistically. “Make no mistake, the two finalists of the Euro are the Germans and the Austrians who evolve, for 3 quarters, within the championship throughout the Rhine. There is no such thing as a secret, it’s the finest competitors on this planet. It’s an issue of depth within the recreation but additionally of the standard of the infrastructure. So methods to repair it? We should give it some thought, however it’s important that our internationals be skilled to play matches on the highest stage frequently. »
This slap is due to this fact helpful and mustn’t due to this fact name all the things into query. The Indoor Pink Lions could have 2 months to appropriate the scenario earlier than the World Cup in South Africa (February 5 to 11, in Pretoria) the place they’ll go together with the identical ambitions as these initially deliberate, specifically a spot within the high 6 and, why not, even a final sq.. Will probably be essential to protect what constituted the strengths and qualities of this group however above all to know what was missing throughout these 4 days. There was spectacular progress and the Belgians have been in a position to compete, at many instances, with world heavyweights corresponding to Germany and Austria. Maxime Bergez’s proteges should now use their frustration and remodel it into constructive vitality to maneuver ahead and focus, any longer,
