Kyan van Berlo’s debut for the Netherlands handball team

◆2 sources

Kyan van Berlo, a 22-year-old handball player from Gemert who plays for Germany’s HSG Nordhorn-Lingen, was called up to the Netherlands squad for European Championship qualifying matches against Finland and Lithuania. His club coach, Mark Bult, is also the Netherlands coach.

Van Berlo made his senior Netherlands debut against Finland in Den Bosch, but his first appearance ended disappointingly after fewer than 20 minutes. The available report does not state why his match ended early.

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Kay Smits misses Netherlands European Championship qualifiers

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Dutch handball international Kay Smits will miss the Netherlands’ next two European Championship qualifying matches because of back problems sustained in a match for his German club, VfL Gummersbach. He is being left out as a precaution. Coach Mark Bult called up Marek Skwarczynski as his replacement. The Netherlands are due to face Finland in ’s-Hertogenbosch and Lithuania in the following qualifying match.

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Mark Bult begins as Netherlands men’s handball coach

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Mark Bult, 44, was due to make his debut as coach of the Netherlands men’s handball team against Finland in Den Bosch, followed by a European Championship qualifying match in Lithuania. Croatia is also in the qualifying group. Bult, appointed until 2028, said the team needs to show more passion after it missed next year’s World Championship by losing a playoff to Greece, and said he wants a firmer approach while remaining open to players’ views. Bult said the Netherlands must qualify for the European Championship, where a top-10 finish would secure a place in an Olympic qualifying tournament. He said he wants to add unpredictability to the team’s attacking play, including possible tactical changes, while retaining its fast style. He also said Luc Steins had been given too much responsibility in attack under the previous coach, Staffan Olsson, and that he intends to take a more prominent role in making decisions during time-outs.