World Cup Football Podcast | ‘Andries Noppert is not the only surprise at Orange’ | football world cup

Mikos Gouka was at the opening match at Al Bay Stadium in Al Khar, well outside Doha. “That stadium is beautiful. The air conditioner works fine. And the Qatar players are enthusiastic, but they lack quality. It is a godsend that the Orange is in the group with these teams,” says Gouka. “You could almost say that you have to play against Qatar with Luuk de Jong and Wout Weghorst”, Maarten Wijffels makes a suggestion because of the goalkeeper of Qatar who struggled with high crosses.

First, the Orange will therefore meet Senegal today. For that game, the inexperienced goalkeeper Andries Noppert will make his debut in the Orange squad. ,,The choice for Noppert is surprising and risky, people will say. But it does suit Van Gaal’s career. There are enough keepers that he has launched in his career in this way,” Wijffels explains.

,,I do think it’s a risk,’ Gouka responds. ,,The Orange squad can win the tournament. And then you set up a keeper who has never played an international match. You can’t imagine that someone with so little experience will soon become world champion.”

And Noppert turns out not to be the only surprise in the Orange squad. Wijffels: ,,There is a good chance that Matthijs de Ligt will play instead of Jurriën Timber.”

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