Andries Noppert can secretly dream of his first minutes in the the Dutch shirt. The SC Heerenveen goalkeeper is part of the final selection and leaves Jasper Cillessen and Mark Flek behind him, among others. The latter two have been left out of the World Cup selection by national coach Louis van Gaal. Justin Bijlow and Remko Pasveer are the other two selected goalkeepers.
Noppert was informed of the news after the training of Heerenveen. “I heard it the same way as last time, after training through the team manager,” the goalie told ESPN. “This is of course a dream come true. I found it difficult how to react, because we still play on Sunday (the Frisian derby against SC Cambuur, ed.). Inside I have a huge feeling of pride. I think this makes you one time in your life. How beautiful is that?”
It’s really true: Andries Noppert is going to the World Cup ???????
“This is a dream come true” ??
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) Nov 11, 2022
Noppert had not fully anticipated his selection. “Maybe that is also to cover yourself a bit. I knew I had to do one thing and that is my very best at the club. I tried to fill that in as best I could and then this is the result. You know that you’re on a list, so there’s a chance you’ll be there. But the other guys have more experience.” Noppert made the switch from Go Ahead Eagles to Heerenveen last summer and has since kept clear six times in thirteen games. He was passed only twelve times.
Surprised
Van Gaal decided to leave both Cillessen and Flek at home and so set out with three keepers. Something that also surprised Noppert. “I also expected that four would come,” the goalkeeper continues. “But the national coach has chosen to take three with me. What I do here (at Heerenveen, ed.), I must also do there. We did not talk about my exact role, but that is because we have a busy schedule I have no idea what they’re up to with me, but it says something that I’m there.”
Noppert does not know whether he has been added to the selection as a penalty specialist. Pasveer was unable to stop a single penalty during the much-discussed tests. Noppert took one. “Not enough yet, but good”, says a sober Noppert. “I try to fill it in as well as possible. I already had contact with my parents this morning. My wife will also be one hundred percent proud. I have received thousands of messages, which is only beautiful. At Heerenveen we sang the Wilhelmus . That is typical of this team.”