FOOTBALL – KJELL SCHERPEN was called up by national coach Ronald Koeman as a keeper for the World Cup qualifying matches against Finland and Malta on Friday 7 and Tuesday 10 June. The born Emmenaar replaces the injured Bart Verbruggen.
The 25-year-old Scherpen was called twice before as a replacement. In 2022 the former FC Emmen goalkeeper came to the selection to replace Tim Krul, a year later he reported instead of the sick Verbruggen. Both times he did not come to minutes and so it is still waiting for his debut for the Dutch national team.
Scherpen is the third keeper on paper in the games against Finland (off) and Malta (at home in the Euroborg Groningen). Mark Flekken from the English Brentford and Nick Olij van Sparta are the other goalkeepers in the selection of Koeman.
In addition to Finland and Malta, the Dutch national team is also in the group at Lithuania and Poland. The numbers 1 and 2 in the group earn a place in the final tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.