“The only keeper who is really in shape is Andries Noppert”

“As you have seen, I haven’t changed much about the group. I thought it was funny that there was so much talk about which players did and didn’t, while I had stated a hundred times that it was a fantastic group.”

National coach Louis van Gaal addressed the journalists in a characteristic way. And he was clear in his opening speech during the press conference, in which he explained his World Cup selection. No explanation about who does and who doesn’t. He speaks of “a very nice group”.

Goalkeepers
Van Gaal has not called up Jasper Cillessen for the World Cup, among other things, because, according to the national coach, he is out of shape. The most experienced goalkeeper was not one of the three keepers who are allowed to go to Qatar from Van Gaal. “I know if you have seen Cillessen’s matches, but he has not been in shape in recent weeks. And the World Cup is now and not in five weeks, so that he can still train with me and goalkeeper coach Frans Hoek and get much better. is a difficult concept,” said Van Gaal when explaining his World Cup selection. “The only keeper who is really in shape is Andries Noppert. But I don’t know what it will be like next week.”

Van Gaal could not yet indicate who will be his first goalkeeper in Qatar. Feyenoord keeper Justin Bijlow has the most experience in Orange of the three. “He could be the first choice, I don’t know. That depends on how he comes to me, but the same goes for Noppert and Pasveer.”

Cillessen reportedly reacted furiously to the news that he has not been selected. “It is logical that he is disappointed. Everyone reacts in their own way. I can imagine some of his disappointment. He was the most experienced keeper and has always delivered with me.”

Four team functions
“These are four team functions that we assess every week for every goalkeeper and player, there is no difference between them. It is of course important to me whether someone has delivered in the Dutch national team. That’s one. Two is the form of the players at the time of selection. Three is that we are now going to a tournament, in which people are together for five weeks. And so it is not always the case that the best player is chosen, but in my view the best team player. Because we have to continue together for five weeks.”

Memphis substitute against Senegal
Memphis can fill in against Senegal. He’s not going to start, I already know that. In my opinion, that’s a risk we run as a group. Because he is the top scorer of the Dutch national team and also the assist king. Well, I can’t change that. That’s the way it is. But he is medically fit, has trained with Leo Echteld for the last week. He will be delivered here on Monday and he will continue to build up a trainer from a rehabilitation. He can do anything, so is medically fit.”

Plan-B and Plan-C
“Plan-B is how we choose the opportunity even more to score goals and plan-C is to defend the lead. That’s new, isn’t it? Luuk de Jong and Weghorst? You’re going to see that, I’m not going to say that. Then I put pressure on the election again, I won’t. I do tell my players that when they come in, what their options are, that they can take that into account. Those players are less likely to leave the starting line-up, but it’s never ruled out.”

Goal: world champion
‘In the goals of the KNVB is written quarter finals, I thought? World champion? I think that’s a bit exaggerated. At the previous board it was the quarterfinals. I think that’s a realistic goal. But we don’t have to agree with each other, I’ve already explained that. We have a good chance of becoming world champions. There are few trainers who dare to speak out like that, but I say this. World champion is my goal.’

‘Biggest present of my life’
“I think this is the greatest gift I’ve ever had in my life. I receive the group with a certain vision. I’ve been putting pressure on them from day one and letting them know what I want from them. That’s where we’re going to work. They come in on Monday and then I have a meeting scheduled, not only with the players but also with all the staff. Then we have three speakers who say something about the structure and the rules. And that we only have one goal and that is to become world champions. Nice huh?”