Tim Krul no longer stands a chance of a place in the World Cup selection of the Dutch national team. National coach Louis van Gaal said this at a press conference on Wednesday evening. The Norwich City goalie canceled the tests that were taken with a view to possible penalty shootouts and that was reason for the elector to put an end to Krul’s World Cup dream.
There were six goalkeepers present at the tests, but there could have been seven. Krul was also invited by Van Gaal to train on penalty kicks alongside Kjell Scherpen, Justin Bijlow, Remko Pasveer, Andries Noppert, Jasper Cillessen and Mark Flek. “However, Tim called me to say that he fits for that,” the national coach revealed. “I can imagine something with that, that he fits for that. Of course I thought it was a shame, because I also know his figures as a penalty kick stopper, but he fits for it.”
That does mean that a place in the World Cup selection will definitely pass the nose of the Norwich keeper. There will therefore not be a repeat of the 2014 World Cup, when Krul was used against Costa Rica in the quarterfinals to stop penalties. “He canceled for the test and was not already selected for the role as goalkeeper. If you do not participate in the test, there is no future for you at the Dutch. That is not so strange, is it? The consequence is that he is not is in the World Cup squad.”
The other keepers have performed tests in a number of areas. “Tests are being taken about reaction time, the reach and the length. That’s all recorded. The question then is what you can do with your body. Ultimately, it’s meant for me to get confirmation of what I’ve already seen. I already saw it with Krul, that was the eye of the master. Now I want a scientific basis, so more confirmation. That should lead to a lead if we have to go into a series.”