Returning to the IHF Males’s World Championship for the primary time since 1961, the Netherlands confirmed that they’re one of many rising powers in Europe, delivering one other good championship one 12 months after ending on the tenth place on the EHF EURO 2022.
The Dutch aspect, with a brand new coach in Sweden’s legend Staffan Olsson on the helm, may sneak into the highest 10 at Poland/Sweden 2023, too, in the event that they snatch a win towards Serbia within the final sport of the Primary Spherical Group III in Katowice.
However even when they don’t seal that remaining win, their efficiency has been particular, hitting loads of milestones within the event – their first win in historical past, their one hundredth purpose within the competitors and progressing for the primary time from the preliminary spherical.
Positive, when speaking in regards to the Netherlands, all eyes are on Luc Steins and Kay Smits, their two stars, who’re that includes prominently at membership degree for France’s champions, PSG Handball, and Germany’s champions, SC Magdeburg, respectively.
Nevertheless, there are different tales to be advised from this thrilling new squad on the block, like Samir Benghanem’s. The 29-year-old line participant has been an integrant a part of the Netherlands’ success within the final years and has been in tremendous kind at Poland/Sweden 2023, too, with 15 targets, six assists, 4 steals and 4 blocked photographs, impressing on either side of the ball.
The catch? Nicely, whereas Smits and Steins are that includes within the prime competitions on the planet week in, week out, Benghanem is taking part in for Dutch aspect Inexperienced Park/Handbal Aalsmeer, mixing handball along with his day-to-day job – the one in every of a tax advisor at a serious monetary agency in The Hague, the Dutch administrative capital and monetary centre.
“It’s an fascinating act of balancing a day job and handball, nevertheless it works out fairly nicely, I’d say. I obtained a variety of leeway from the fellows on the job, I may work it out very nicely with them, so I had the preparation, I obtained the times off for the World Championship, and right here I’m, simply being right here and soaking all of it up, having fun with each minute of it,” says Benghanem.
“I’m working in the course of the day and going to coaching and matches within the night or weekends. Everyone understands it, so the association is nice for all of the events concerned. I’m additionally throwing some handball within the combine, watching it on TV every time I’ve the time, so it’s good.”
Regardless of not that includes on a robust staff at membership degree, Benghanem is the proper praise to the pace and creativity introduced by the skilled gamers within the Netherlands’ squad, providing knowhow and physicality in defence, each much-needed qualities in trendy handball.
Based mostly in The Hague, the 29-year-old line participant attracted some curiosity from groups throughout Europe as a result of his wonderful video games however politely declined all of the gives he obtained as a result of his dedication to his day job.
“There have been some fascinating gives, however I couldn’t go away my job as a result of I like what I’m doing. I’m in a superb place, and it might not have labored for me and for my life. Subsequently, I made a decision to remain within the Netherlands and stability the act,” provides Benghanem.
At Poland/Sweden 2023, he ranks within the prime 10 for photographs blocked and within the prime 15 for steals. His defensive nous labored wonders for the Netherlands, who snatched wins towards Argentina, North Macedonia and Qatar, respectively however fell quick towards Norway and Germany.
Particularly, the sport towards Norway was a painful defeat (26:27), with the Scandinavian aspect rising victorious as a result of their depth and expertise, qualities that the Netherlands are solely creating now, as an increasing number of gamers embrace handball and enter the fray.
“We’ve got a really, superb staff. It’s clear that we now have made some huge steps within the final years and we are able to turn out to be even higher as a result of we are actually measuring up with a few of the greatest groups on the planet. Whether or not we win or lose, we embrace the method as a result of, ultimately, it’s going to solely make us higher,” provides Benghanem.
“The standard is there; I imply, we’re all seeing how Luc [Steins] and Kay [Smits] are taking part in, and that is solely the start for us. As a staff, we are able to solely get higher sooner or later.”
The Dutch aspect obtained a Wild Card for Poland/Sweden 2023 after being eradicated by Portugal in a crunch doubleheader within the Qualification Europe Half 2 in March 2022. Nonetheless, they got here motivated and with an improved mentality within the competitors.
Their outcomes make for fascinating studying, and the Netherlands are absolutely a staff to observe, mirroring the event of the ladies’s staff, which after a number of medals at main competitions, lastly gained the trophy on the 2019 IHF Girls’s World Championship.
Whereas Benghanem won’t be knowledgeable, he’s nonetheless one of many pillars of the squad and has not performed like a part-time participant at Poland/Sweden 2023. And there’s the catch.
“When you do it along with your coronary heart open and pour the whole lot you have got on the courtroom, the success will come,” concludes the Dutch line participant.