The 32-year-old top player from the Danish Odense thanked the Dutch in January 2019 to “slow down”. She stuck to her decision, even though calls for her return became strong due to long-term injuries to Estavana Polman and Delaila Amega.
“This is mainly an administrative fact. She is now eligible to play for the European Championship”, the handball association explains the sudden selection of Groot. The union does not want to say whether there are new talks about a return.
The door for Groot is always open
The handball women came back together for the first time in the corona era at the end of September. Even then Groot was already a topic of discussion. “The last time I spoke to her, she wasn’t ready. She knows the door is always open,” Mayonnade said at the time.
Polman even made an urgent appeal: “Come to the Netherlands very soon, we need you!” And Lois Abbingh smiling: “We do talk about it sometimes. Never say never, I would say.”
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