Goalkeeper Andries Noppert - late blooming tulips

*Netherlands - Argentina: 2pm Saturday, December 7, on MetaSports.

Just a few weeks ago, Noppert wasn't even sure if he'd been arrested. Two months ago, he was not sure if he would be called up. Two years ago, he wasn't even sure if his future would stick with football. But now, he is one of the standout players in the 2022 World Cup, not only as the tallest player in the tournament.

Up to this point, Noppert has only conceded twice in the tournament and shown a performance that makes coach Louis Van Gaal can raise his eyebrows. Noppert himself admitted that no coach would dare give him a chance, except Van Gaal. Normally, few leaders have the courage to let a goalkeeper start at a tournament like the World Cup for a goalkeeper who has made less than 50 professional appearances after a decade.

Noppert started in Heerenveen, but was not picked and tried his luck with NAC Breda. Here, he also played only six matches in four years and the results were so bad that many times the players did not dare to go out for fear of anger from the fans.

To change the situation, Noppert tried to go to Italy to play for Foggia, but the bad financial situation pushed this team down to Serie D. After saying goodbye to Foggia, Noppert returned to the Netherlands to play for Dordrecht. Here, he was given an immediate opportunity. Goalkeeping coach Arben Kasolli asked back: "Right after the first training session, I said that I wanted him to start. After three days, he played against strong opponent NEC Nijmegen. The home team won, and Andries received the best player of the week award.

The bad luck would end for Noppert, but after just a few games, he broke a muscle and began to struggle with the injury. After a month of recovery, Noppert returned to training and suffered a knee injury. After a week of rest, he resumed training and the injury relapsed. In the end, he had to choose surgery and rest to prepare for the next season.

Kasolli recalls: "After the surgery, Andries asked me if I could help him get back in shape. We had just returned to training for two sessions when Andries was not allowed to practice with the first team anymore due to the new coach and technical director. I tried to convince him, but the answer was always no. For the first time in my career a coach didn't want to listen to me. So Andries had to find a team again. new ball. I tried to say good things about him to the Italian teams, but got no response."

In early 2021, old friend Harmen Kuperus - who has known each other since Heerenveen - is working as a goalkeeping coach at Go Ahead Eagles. When he realized that Noppert was struggling to make ends meet, he decided to risk lying for you. Kuperus said: "Although he is injured, I know Andries' strong will will overcome everything. So I had to lie a little bit to coach Kees van Wonderen, that he was completely healthy. Coach coach. and I have a good relationship, so the team will recruit goalkeepers that I give the green light."

Mr. Van Wonderen was the one who listened to Kuperus to bring him back to the Go Ahead Eagles and later Heerenveen. He recounted the conversation that changed Noppert's fortunes: "Kuperus came and told me about a goalkeeper who needed more time due to his injury. He insisted that if he was in the right environment, he would be the best player. a reliable goalkeeper."

What both Van Wonderen and Kuperus quickly discovered was that Noppert's biggest problem was not physical or technical, but psychological. He is a very good person and has a peaceful mind in the reserve position. At the new team, Noppert received advice "to compete with teammates and try to be better every day".

Things changed dramatically from then on, when Noppert kept practicing and as soon as he got the chance to start, he took it and never left the number one spot again. This is hard to believe even for Noppert's own family - who a few months ago advised him to consider quitting football. "It was the moment that made him try one last time and give more than 100 percent," Kuperus said.

Noppert's ability to play ball has improved significantly. His biggest problem in the past was unreasonable entry and exit. In the past, Noppert always rushed out in front of high ball situations and could not react if suddenly faced with a shot. Coaches Van Wonderen and Kuperus changed this by asking Noppert to better judge the situation, use his height and long arm span to stop the opponent and only go up when it is certain that he can touch the ball in front of the striker. enemy.

At Heerenveen, he continued to be respected. The fact that Noppert had a rough past and almost retired early made him respected by everyone due to his determination to fight to get up from the mud. "Sometimes everyone around you says you should give up, but you yourself say no and keep going. Andries did so and is motivated to be the best version of himself," commented Van Wonderen.

Noppert's performance not only makes Heerenveen and the Dutch people proud. At Dordrecht, goalkeeping coach Kasolli can hold his head high because his assessment of Noppert in the past has become a reality, that teams could make a lot of money if they invested in a 2.03-tall goalkeeper. this m.

Noppert and Kuperus had an appointment in October. But it was postponed indefinitely with a very good reason: Noppert was called up to the Netherlands squad for the World Cup. Now, Kuperus feels there is no rush, as he wants his old friend "to stay in Qatar as long as possible".

"He's very comfortable with what happened," Kuperus said. "For someone who didn't even have a team to accept, Andries understands that he needs to enjoy every moment. Of course he is worried, but also very excited. This is a good thing."