Davinia Vanmechelen (22) does not like that she has not been called up for the national football team. “Our standards are stricter than those of the European and vice world champions of the Netherlands”, responds the attacker, “but I will be stricter on myself. If they want, I will not eat anything anymore.”
“must read on Instagram”
Surprise at the Red Flames: Davinia Vanmechelen (Standard) is no longer part of the national team.
“It was a big surprise for me too,” the attacker tells Sporza. “I was scrolling on Instagram when I suddenly saw a selection without my name. Hard.”
The national coach had not informed her? “No. In the run-up I had a conversation and during the fat measurement they also said that I was on the right track.”
“It bothers me that they didn’t tell me about their choice. I didn’t know they were going to bring out the story about the physical parameters.”
“Nobody at the union knows how that happened, but it was hard to read. My name has been blackened.”
Green, orange and red zone
“I also knew that my fat measurement had to be improved”, Davinia Vanmechelen continues. “That’s why I took the initiative myself and I also informed the national coach.”
How does such a fat measurement work?
Vanmechelen: “You have 3 zones: a green, an orange and a red zone. I read that I was in the red zone in September, but that is not correct at all. I was injured, which caused some gains, but I think that’s normal after an injury.”
“The fat percentage and your running ability are the most important parameters,” explains the player. “I would have been tubed for the running part. Punishment, because my last walking test was in November.”
“We are all aware of those zones”, Vanmechelen wants to make clear, “but you also have to be realistic. I passed the green zone once. Then I ate almost nothing.”
“Our standards are very strict,” she says. “Certainly if you compare them with those of European and vice world champions of the Netherlands.”
Our standards are stricter than those of European and vice world champions the Netherlands.
“If they want, I won’t eat anything more”
The Red Flames are not a closed chapter for Davinia Vanmechelen. The 22-year-old attacker already has a meeting with the staff in her agenda.
“I’m going to do my very best,” promises the ex-PSG player. “I’ll be stricter with myself and if they want me to, I won’t eat anything.”
“With my physique, I don’t find it easy to maintain a constant, but giving up is not in my dictionary.”
The national team will meet again in a month and a half. “By then I will be there again”, Vanmechelen insists.
