Justin Bijlow was decisive on Friday evening in the 0-1 victory of the Netherlands over Latvia in the World Cup qualifier. In extra time, substitute Igors Tarasovs was close to 1-1, but the goalkeeper prevented the the Dutch from losing points. Although Bijlow saved the victory and was the first choice in recent international matches, according to Louis van Gaal he is not yet sure of his place as the first goalkeeper under the bar at the the Dutch squad. The unselected Jasper Cillessen is still a serious option.
“It was a very good save, which I was very happy with. Yet it remains an open battle under the bar,” Van Gaal emphasized at the press conference. “Cillessen is fit again, is playing and has always performed well under my leadership. Don’t rule him out. And Mark Fleks has presented himself well in recent days.” Everyone must also prove themselves for all other positions, Van Gaal emphasized. No one is sure of his place in the World Cup squad. “I believe in emerging players and select guys who are in shape and fit. That fluctuates,” assured the trainer of the Dutch national team.
It is very telling who the best player of the Dutch was against Latvia
Voetbalzone handed out report figures to the players of the Dutch.
Flekken made his debut on Friday evening as a selection player for the the Dutch squad. He was preferred as third keeper over Joël Drommel, who was referred to the stands. The 28-year-old Flek has so far made 21 Bundesliga appearances on behalf of SC Freiburg, in which he impressed Van Gaal enough to be included in the the Dutch selection. “Drommel is a talented keeper who may be in a slightly lesser period, but of course this gives him an extra hit. Apparently Flek is now also over Drommel in the hierarchy at the Dutch”, analyst Pierre Van Hooijdonk said on Friday. NOS at.
“I think it’s crazy yes; I think it’s a special choice”, agreed Rafael van der Vaart. “I don’t think it happened often that a third keeper has been called up that we all don’t know. We are actually seeing him for the first time now. Super fun for that boy and I know from Germany that he is doing well. Only if you have Drommel and Bijlow… then I think this is a strange choice. Especially in such an unimportant game.”
Van Gaal likes to experiment under the bar, as it turned out in his previous period with the Dutch national team. Then he gave no less than five keepers playing time with Kenneth Vermeer, Cillessen, Maarten Stekelenburg, Michel Vorm and Tim Krul. Van Gaal already said last week that Cillessen ‘is back in the picture’. “He has been goalkeeping again in recent weeks. He will have to prove himself in the coming weeks. Do I make an exception for him? No, I don’t do that for anyone.”