Great Britain’s campaign at the 2025 Euros got underway in Rotterdam on Saturday, and let’s just say it wasn’t exactly the dream start. The hosts, the Netherlands, ran out 9–3 winners in front of their home crowd, sending the Brits back to the hotel with their heads held high, but down 0-1 in Pool B.
By the time I biked back to my hotel it was close on 1am, so I knew that the next game – an important clash against Israel, who had beaten the French 8-4 earlier in the day – was a mere 12 hours away. I was feeling drained, but I’m guessing the elite athletes of the GB team just took it in their stride.
Nick Wells, left-handed starter who played last season with the amazingly named Gastonia Ghost Peppers, got the ball for GB. He had barely loosened up when Didi Gregorius – yes, that Didi Gregorius – turned on the second pitch of the day and launched it over the fence in right-centre. “Welcome to international baseball, lads.” Another hit followed, but Wells steadied himself with back-to-back strikeouts to escape further damage.
The deficit didn’t last long. Co-captain Nick Ward – subject of one of my favourite ever baseball highlights – worked a walk and Charlie Collins drove him in with a knock to left to tie the scores.
Both pitchers settled in with Wells matching the experienced Tom de Blok – fan favourite and former player for Neptunus (whose stadium the game is being played). Collins and Quinn Allen strung hits together before Julian Sanders poked one through the middle to give GB a 2–1 lead. For a fleeting moment, optimism bubbled, but the opponents are the tournament favourites, so it was no surprise when the Dutch answered back in the very next frame. Eugene Helder, down two strikes, destroyed one to bring parity.
Things stayed level until the seventh when GB appeared to take the lead, but Collins was ruled out at the plate. Where is VAR when you need it? I was convinced that the GB player was safe, but I am assured by ace ex-umpire Gabor Erdos that the official was correct.
And then the gut punch. The Dutch pounced thanks to a Gregorius run-scoring flyball which got caught in the windy swirls. Fortunately for GB, the former Yankees shortstop was too ambitious on the basepaths and was tagged out at third.
Mr Resilient himself, Nick Ward, smacked a two-out double in the top of the seventh, and Will Cresswell drove him home to tie things up at 3–3. It was a set for a great climax.
A Jonathan Schoop solo homer re-excited the orange-clad fans, and then the wheels came off for GB. Hendrik Clementina walked, Sharlon Schoop – if one Schoop doesn’t get you the other one will – crushed a two-run shot into the Rotterdam drizzle, and the scoreboard illuminated 6–3.
Under 23 gold medalist, Andrew Campbell came in to put out the fire, but by then the damage was done. Remember the name. The youngster looks like a star in the making.
Three more Dutch runs in the ninth rubbed salt into the wound. Netherlands lead Group B after the 9–3 opening night win, but Great Britain, with eight players making their senior debuts, can take many positives from the performance.
Next up: Israel – let’s hope we don’t have protests or field invasions like Saturday. The game starts at midday (GB time) on Sunday. Grab a coffee, chuck on BaseballEurope.TV, and listen to commentary by Gabriel Fiedler (Extra Innings UK). Lets Go GB.
Awesome pics in this article by Line Drive Captures
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