The absence of Jasper Cillessen in the World Cup selection of the Dutch is seen as the biggest surprise of Louis van Gaal. The national coach leaves the NEC goalkeeper at home and chooses Andries Noppert, Remko Pasveer and Justin Bijlow as closing posts during the final tournament. Cillessen just reported to NEC on Friday after the announcement, where he was surprised after training by a journalist from the Gelderlander.
To the surprise of many, Cillessen does not belong to the definitive selection corps. The 63-time international was informed by Van Gaal himself on Friday morning that he has dropped out for the World Cup. The national coach of the Dutch national team prefers Noppert, Pasveer and Bijlow and also leaves Mark Flek at home. The Gelderlander then went to the NEC training complex to gauge the mood and spoke with supporters and trainer Rogier Meijer, among others. Cillessen declined to comment.
I can look at this all day long. #Cillessen #wkselection pic.twitter.com/Bo0fiWCxmL
— Mark (@Fr1908Mark) Nov 11, 2022
Meijer, among others, expressed his surprise at Cillessen’s failure to select. “The way I look at Jasper, I think he is the best goalkeeper in the Netherlands. I don’t think it’s right that he was not selected. It is disappointing for Jasper and for us as a player group and club. “To go to the World Cup. That was a bitter pill this morning. He has been good for us. He has taken points in a number of games and has shown good form.”
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Louis van Gaal gave text and explanation during the press conference about the absence of Jasper Cillessen.
Cillessen himself did not want to react in front of the camera. A video from the newspaper shows how journalist Nanne Nicolasen dives out of the bushes to confront the goalkeeper with the situation. “Sorry to be so rude, Jasper,” said Nicolasen. “How do you feel about not being selected? Don’t want to comment?” Cillessen then walks away and refuses to answer the questions. Last year during the European Championships, the closing post was not there either. Then he was left at home by then national coach Frank de Boer.
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