‘Squeezed lemon’ Willem II almost certain of promotion: ‘Burden of shoulders’ | Football

When Nick Doodeman is taken off two minutes before the end, the right winger of Willem II immediately asks his teammates what the score is at Jong Ajax-Roda JC.

“Of course we as players are also calculating,” says 27-year-old Doodeman after the match against FC Groningen. “What happens if we draw? What are the consequences if Roda JC loses points? All these scenarios were known to us in advance. So we immediately knew that this 1-1 was a good result for us.”

The Willem II fans confirm that idea by cheering very loudly one more time a few minutes after the final whistle in Tilburg. The final score in Amsterdam at Jong Ajax-Roda JC (1-1) seeps into the stands and that results in a Brabant party.

No promotion party yet, because Willem II would have had to win against FC Groningen for that. But thanks to Friday evening’s results, the leader of the Kitchen Champion Division is very close to a return to the highest level. A point in the last two matches (away against FC Dordrecht and at home against Telstar) is enough, also because number two Roda and number three Groningen have to play against each other in the last round.

“A burden has been lifted from our shoulders,” says Doodeman, who scored the opening goal for Willem II in the 56th minute. “We can’t afford promotion anymore. We know we are good enough to get a point in the last two games. If that doesn’t work, then we don’t deserve to be promoted.”

It is clear well before kick-off that a special match will take place in the King Willem II Stadium just before King’s Day. An hour before the start of the match, the entrance gates had to be closed briefly because fans of the Belgian Royal Antwerp FC tried to enter without a ticket.

They can no longer attend, because the possible promotional match with FC Groningen is sold out. The home fans, often dressed in red, white and blue, create a special atmosphere.

“During the warm-up, the stadium was almost completely full,” says Doodeman. “You could sense that everyone here was ready for promotion. You don’t often play these kinds of matches, a promotion match with a direct competitor, as a football player. It was very special to experience.”

After his beautiful goal, the wing attacker thinks for a moment that he will forever go down in the history books as the man who shot Willem II back to the Eredivisie after two seasons.

“That would have been a very nice fact,” says Doodeman with a smile. “It was certainly the most important goal of my career. It would have been great if it had been the winning goal, but then I have to try that again next week.”

Willem II coach Peter Maes compares his selection to a lemon that has almost been completely squeezed. The Tilburg team has been the leader since the fourteenth round of the Kitchen Champion Division, but it has not been easy in the last weeks of the season. Last week against MVV, Willem II lost points for the second time in three matches (1-1).

Maes said after the draw in Maastricht that he felt some promotional stress among his players. That stress was still there this week, but according to the experienced Belgian, his players converted it into the energy needed for a top match.

“There has been some irritation during training in recent days. I have seen some problems,” says Maes. “But that’s only a good thing. This way I knew that I had the focus to reach a climax in this important match.”

Maes did not adjust much in his preparation, although Willem II did train twice this week. “We actually never do that,” says Doodeman with a smile. “Oh, those are little things. We know that we have to remain ourselves. Because that has taken us very far.”

Under Maes, who succeeded the dismissed coach Reinier Robbemond in September, Willem II has grown into a team that is very difficult to beat. Dutch football with a Belgian edge. “There is a good chemistry between those two football cultures,” says Maes. “That’s what got us here. And now we just have to finish it.”