The Tears of Joey Veerman: Self-knowledge Hurts | De Gooi

The game of Oranje was, figuratively speaking, certainly something to cry regarding on Tuesday night. But footballers who actually burst into tears because of their own disappointing game? A rarity. Usually there is indignation when a player has to leave the sidelines painfully early in the game. The footballer in question gives the trainer – the main culprit – a weak handshake, then kicks a full water bottle into the stands, lets himself be calmed down by teammates and starts sulking.

That sulking is part of it. Especially giving the impression that the trainer doesn’t see it right, that the others on the field weren’t doing much either. But the camera that zoomed in on Joey Veerman didn’t show an act. Here was someone who was making unusually big reproaches to himself, who had enough self-reflection in his ass to realize that he had messed up.

Veerman is comforted following his substitution. © ANP

Ever since his time at FC Volendam, Joey Veerman has been walking around with his chest out. There, in ‘his’ village, he quickly realised that he was better than his teammates. He didn’t hesitate to say so. The same at Heerenveen. He quickly outgrew that club – and he said that openly too. He was also one of the better players at PSV this season. Veerman knows it regarding himself and doesn’t make it complicated in public – that’s why he’s a footballer the media likes to chat with. Never boring with Veerman, because he tells it like it is.

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Now Veerman knew it too. He was the weak link. That is new for someone who was always one of the best in the team. He did not appear in front of the camera. The images told enough. His toys had been taken away. But he will get them back one day. And as it also happens with small children: then the suffering suffered is quickly forgotten. There will come a time when the extremely talented Veerman is ‘just’ one of the best on the field once more. Also for Oranje.

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