Ronald Waterreus does not understand Frank de Boer’s decision not to take Jasper Cillessen with him to the European Championship. The national coach of the Dutch national team decided on Tuesday to leave the Valencia goalkeeper out of the European Championship selection and to call up Marco Bizot, who had initially dropped out. Cillessen has not been able to fully train with the group due to a positive corona test and it is questionable when he will be one hundred percent fit. In view of this uncertainty, De Boer decided not to take any risks and to take Bizot with him after all.
Waterreus, which provides Cillessen with goalkeeper gloves as a sponsor, finds it difficult to understand De Boer’s choice. “I also try to understand this decision, but I can’t”, the former goalkeeper counters Football International. “They told him that if he could join next Monday, nothing would be wrong. Cillessen has kept all the last matches at Valencia, he is in shape and sharp. That the national coach says he does not know how long it will take before Cillessen I find it strange that he is fit, because as far as I know he has no complaints at all due to corona.”
Due to the absence of Cillessen, Maarten Stekelenburg and Tim Krul will fight over who will be the first goalkeeper during the European Championship. “Compared to the other keepers, Cillessen stands head and shoulders above the rest”, Waterreus continues. “He has won sixty international matches and, with the exception of a few exceptions, has always done well. The fact that the national coach says that Cillessen must remain fit and available is no more than a sop. You do that with a 21-year-old debutant, but not with Cillessen? De Boer doesn’t think he’s fit enough to take him with him, but he has to stay fit. I don’t follow that.”
De Boer announced the numbers of the players who will go with the the Dutch to the European Championship on Wednesday. Stekelenburg has been assigned jersey number one, his competitor under the bar Krul will play with number thirteen. De Boer announced at the press conference on Tuesday that he has not yet made a decision about who his first keeper is now that Jasper Cillessen has been removed from the list. De Boer said it is quite possible that the Ajax keeper and Krul will both get a chance to show themselves in the upcoming international matches against Scotland (Wednesday evening) and Georgia (June 6).
Voetbalzone keeps you informed about everything about EURO 2020
Curious about the current standings, the match program and much more European Championship news? Click here!
Related
More sports news