FOOTBALL – Keeper Kjell Scherpen has been included in the pre-selection of the Dutch national team by the new national coach Ronald Koeman. The Emmenaar is one of five keepers who have a chance to win a place under the crossbar against France and Gibraltar later this month.
The former FC Emmen goalkeeper Scherpen plays for Vitesse this season. He has been rented out by his English club Brighton and Hove Albion. In September, Scherpen was also tested with the Orange, when Louis van Gaal started looking for a penalty specialist.
Scherpen was already on the bench at the Dutch team, he never played an international match. He was regularly under the bar at the Dutch Juniors.
In addition to Scherpen, keepers Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Jasper Cillessen (NEC), Mark Flek (SC Freiburg) and Bart Verbruggen (Anderlecht) are also included in the pre-selection. Verbruggen was the only one who had never been included in the pre-selection before.
In total, Koeman has listed 37 players for the next two European Championship qualifiers against France (March 24) and Gibraltar (March 27). Among them also former FC Emmen striker Wout Weghorst, who now plays for Manchester United.