Sometimes That Goes Very Well, and Very Occasionally I Let Myself Be Provoked

Duco Telgenkamp has acknowledged his costly yellow card in the Netherlands' World Cup hockey semifinal defeat, admitting he was provoked and took responsibility for the loss. The Dutch side, playing on home soil, fell 3-4 to Spain after Telgenkamp's 10-minute suspension allowed the Spaniards to turn a 1-1 draw into a 1-4 lead. "Too bad, that covers it, Telgenkamp said of the elimination.

"I am a player who plays with emotion. Sometimes that goes very well, and very occasionally I let myself be provoked. Maybe that is the immaturity in my game.

He added: "I do my best, try to give my heart and soul for the team. Sometimes I let myself be provoked, c'est ça. This is the second time the 24-year-old has drawn negative attention at a major tournament.

Two years ago at the Olympic Games in Paris, he challenged German goalkeeper Jean-Paul Dannenberg after a shoot-out win in the final, leading to a scuffle. On Saturday, Telgenkamp was provoked in the final quarter by Spanish defender Xavier Gispert, who shouted loudly after blocking a shot from the Dutch striker. In frustration, Telgenkamp pushed the Spaniard to the ground, and the video referee punished him.

In a crucial phase, the Netherlands had to play with a man down." "I think I have to look at myself for this one, to be honest, Telgenkamp said. "I am someone who takes responsibility. When things go well, I want to beat my chest, and here I must acknowledge that I had a big part in it, unfortunately.

I will learn from this. He added: "I have good intentions and want to win with that beautiful team. This is the best team I have ever played in.

I wish them to become world champions, because they deserve it. But we remain human. We do our best, but sometimes it is not enough.

Teammates Jonas de Geus and Thierry Brinkman refused to single out Telgenkamp as the scapegoat." "But of course it was a stupid action, Duco knows that himself, De Geus said. "But I also think we already gave the match away a bit in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter I had the feeling we regained control, but that card did us in.

Captain Brinkman added: That was a crucial moment. But we were already not playing well in the third quarter. Eventually you get that moment and then you are completely chasing the game.

I saw the replay on the big screen and knew immediately it was bad. With that yellow card you know it is going to be a hell of a job.