A real striker should be on the pitch
Field hockey world champion Kim Lammers talks about her first World Cup, retiring with a winning goal and watching the football in the local pub.
World champion
Two weeks ago, Dutch field hockey player Kim Lammers (33) held her second World Cup up high after her team’s victory against Australia (2-0). In her 200th and final game she waved the international stage goodbye with what she does best: scoring a goal. Since her debut for the national team in 2002 the striker has won two world cups, four European cups and the 2012 Olympics, and has scored 124 goals. What a way to end a more-than-glorious international career.
Kim Lammers with Naomi van As
Highs and lows
“In the last minutes of that World Cup final it all came together,” says a very relaxed Kim at her holiday home in Egmond along the Dutch coast. “I am still enjoying the sense of triumph, but at that very moment I wished it would last a little longer.”
She goes on: “Of course, this is my most special World Cup moment. Scoring and winning in your very last game for your own crowd is beyond a dream.
“But all is relative,” she adds quickly. “I was not selected for the Beijing Olympics in 2008, although I had fully recovered from a torn knee ligament, and that was hard. Like losing the World Cup final in Argentina in 2010.”
Humble beginnings
“I am glad I can see it in perspective now. During my first World Cup in Perth 2002, I couldn’t. I wasn’t complete as a player or person yet. I had to watch the semi-final and final from the stands and that felt harsh. I thought I already was the striker I am now: scoring goals, always and everywhere.” It took her until after the missed 2008 Olympics to fully mature. “I became more fit, more focussed. And I am very grateful for what has happened since,” smiles Kim.
2014 World Champions Field Hockey
Early World Cup memories
Being a striker, Kim likes to watch football. “As a fan not as an analyst. I am watching most of the World Cup games now. The first World Cup football I remember was the 1994 World Cup in the United States. I was on holiday with my family at the same beach where I am now, and we kids were allowed to stay up late to watch the games. We watched in a local pub, because we didn’t have television in the beach house. The whole village was decked in orange and I was fascinated to see how a complete nation was willing to unite behind the Dutch team.” Despite a brilliant comeback, the Dutch team lost 3-2 in the quarterfinals against Brazil.
Orange madness
“Now, twenty years later, I still experience that same orange madness and I believe one day it will pay off. Maybe in two weeks’ time we will have the second Dutch World Champion team of this year. Why not?” Kim says with a grin. “The team plays very effectively even without striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar. I like him as a player and hope he will score his goals this tournament; preferably in a final against Brazil. Kim can feel Klaas Jan’s frustration when she sees him sitting on the bench. “He’s a real striker, like me, and a real striker should be on the pitch.”
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Guest blog by Floris Loeff, former Dutch premier league hockey player.
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This month we celebrate World Cup memories. Also see our interview with Dutch field hockey international Wouter Jolie (28) and other articles. What’s your favourite World Cup memory?
