(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Fay van der Elst Ready for Her First European Championship With the Netherlands
At 27 years old, Fay van der Elst is preparing for one of the biggest moments of her career — her debut at the European Championship in Mönchengladbach. Known as the deep striker for the Dutch national team, she has already scored an impressive 15 goals in just 23 international appearances since making her debut in the Pro League two years ago.
Back in the last European Championship, van der Elst was watching from the stands while on a team weekend with Amsterdam. This time, she’ll be on the pitch. The news came a week and a half ago when national coach Raoul Ehren named her in the tournament squad. “I scrolled straight to the list, and luckily my last name starts with an E, so I saw myself quickly,” she recalled. “I had a good feeling, but it was still a relief.”
Van der Elst describes herself as a specialist striker — focused on finishing chances but also improving her overall game. Quiet and modest off the field, she becomes sharp, alert, and constantly scanning for opportunities once the match starts. “I’m always looking for that one moment,” she explained.
Her love for scoring goals started early, playing in the garden with her three sisters, all of whom played hockey. Facing powerful shots from them helped develop the reflexes and timing she’s known for today. Her favourite goal so far came against Spain at the Wagener Stadium — a precise strike into the top corner.
While many strikers keep detailed records of their goals, van der Elst doesn’t focus on statistics. She knows chances can be rare, especially against teams that defend deep against the dominant Dutch side, making every opportunity precious. Timing is everything, and she tailors her runs based on the style of her teammates’ passes.
Influenced by former Dutch star Kim Lammers, van der Elst has learned the finer details of movement and positioning in the circle — small adjustments that can make the difference between a missed chance and a winning goal.
As the European Championship begins, van der Elst is ready to make her mark. She won’t make any bold predictions, but if she can maintain her current scoring rate of more than one goal every two games, she’ll be more than satisfied — and so will the Netherlands.
