Oranje debut at World Cup
Few players make their national team debut at a World Cup – Heerenveen goalkeeper Andries Noppert did so for the Netherlands at the tender age of 28 and knew how to impress. Amid rumors surrounding Ajax Amsterdam and Betis Sevilla, he spoke with “now.nl‘ about his future in the national team: ‘Maybe this was the last time. Yes, that was my thought after the game against Argentina. That’s not crazy considering where I’m from, is it?”
Noppert: “I’m grateful to van Gaal that the Oranje dream came true”
Almost two years ago, Noppert, who was born in Heerenveen, was without a club for the second time in a short space of time. At 2.03 meters, the tallest player in the World Cup was under contract with FC Dordrecht in the 2nd division until the summer of 2020, but could not do it there – as was the case at youth club Heerenveen, NAC Breda and Calcio Foggia in Italy’s Serie B push through. After leaving South Holland, his wife is said to have advised him to hang up his gloves and try a new start with the police.
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He owes the “gift” of the World Cup, as Noppert described it, to coach Louis van Gaal. “As a child, I dreamed of experiencing something like this, but in recent years that dream has been very far away. In fact, he wasn’t there anymore. I’m grateful to van Gaal that the Oranje dream came true after all. I probably wouldn’t have gotten this chance with another national coach.” From 2023, Ronald Koeman will decide whether his Oranje career will continue.
Noppert would probably have a better chance if he was between the posts at a bigger club than Heerenveen, where his contract runs until 2024. Recently there have been rumors from Spain about an interest from Betis Sevilla, which is now joined by rumors about Ajax Amsterdam. “De Telegraaf“ reports that the goalkeeper is at the top of the record champions’ wish list – in return, U21 national goalkeeper Jay Gorter (22) could move to Heerenveen on loan. Noppert, who should also be involved with Serie A and Premier League clubs, would like to relax with his family for a week and a half before returning to team training.
“I’m not thinking about a transfer now, I’ll see what happens in the near future. Will my life change? The most important thing is to keep both feet on the ground and I think I’ll manage that,” said Noppert.
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