Andries Noppert’s family reminisces: ‘Celebrated with a beer, but up again at six o’clock’ | football world cup

Yesterday, the Noppert family watched the game of Andries’ career in a small group. Until now, because after his excellent performance against Senegal, the World Cup dream of the Heerenveen keeper continues happily. In Andries’ parental home, mother Lucie, father Fokko and brother Anne sat in front of the TV with his wife and children. Tense, yes of course.

But mostly enjoying. ,,The last hours before the game I got really nervous,” says his brother Anne. ,,You especially hope that he does not do crazy antics. That turned out well. Andrews did a good job. The game itself was of course not a spectacle.

But oh, what the heck. Nothing of course. ,,I tried to call him after the game, but he couldn’t get through or something. It wasn’t until hours later that I got on the phone with him. By then we had already had a nice beer at home. But again not too crazy. The alarm went off again at six. I work for a company that makes stairs in homes. Life goes on, of course.”

The story is almost too good to be true. The now 28-year-old Noppert led a fairly anonymous professional life, but flourished last year at Go Ahead Eagles and earned a transfer to SC Heerenveen. To everyone’s surprise, including himself, he came into the picture with the Orange and Noppert is now even the first keeper. A few years ago he was still sitting at the kitchen table with father Fokko.

The topic of conversation? Do you still want all that, that professional life without much perspective. Noppert persevered, retrospectively the best decision of his life. Father Fokko is friendly on the phone, but does not have to be in the foreground. It prefers to enjoy in silence. A family thing. ,,Sober, hey,” says brother Anne. ,,The way the Netherlands gets to know Andries now, that’s how he really is. And so are we as a family. But we’re proud of him.”

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