The Netherlands beat Senegal thanks to two injury-time goals from Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen to start its FIFA World Cup campaign on a victorious note. However, the Dutch may thank Andries Noppert, their goalie, for it.
The 28-year-old Noppert, who was making his World Cup debut for his country, made three key stops and preserved a clean sheet to stop Senegal, who controlled possession for the majority of the game.
His impressive start allowed the Netherlands, who were disqualified from the 2018 World Cup in Russia, to successfully reclaim their place on the biggest platform in football.
Who is Noppert, the Netherlands’ match-saving player against Senegal at the FIFA World Cup 2022?
But who is Noppert?
On November 21, 2022, at the Al-Thumama Stadium in Doha, the Netherlands’ Andries Noppert makes a save against Senegal in a World Cup qualifying match for Qatar 2022. Photo courtesy of AFP
The tallest player in Qatar 2022 is Noppert. He is 2.03 meters tall.
The start of his career at Al Thumama Stadium marked a stunning change. He went nearly two years without a club with which to play. His wife and family were compelled by the circumstances to persuade him to quit football and join the police department as a viable source of income.
Noppert persisted, nevertheless. Noppert joined the hometown Eredivisie team Heerenveen after being born and raised in Heerenveen. He left for NAC Breda in 2014, though, and never played for them. In four years with the Dutch team, he only appeared six times in the league.
After that, Noppert joined Serie B team Foggia. Unfortunately, the club was denied admittance into Serie C after being demoted from Italy’s second division. Eventually, Foggia was declared inactive after the conclusion of the 2018–19 campaign.
👋🇳🇱 Andries Noppert
Standing at 203cm, he's the tallest player at the #FIFAWorldCup 📏 pic.twitter.com/CidweDM5Za
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 17, 2022
After returning home, Noppert signed with FC Dordrecht of the second division. He made two appearances before being dismissed after just one season. The period from June 2020 to July 2021 saw him without a club. His wife now suggested that he give up playing football and join the police.
However, Noppert did not let his dream to vanish. The newly promoted Go Ahead Eagles team in the Eredivisie was without a goalie. It hired Noppert, who seized the chance wholeheartedly. Go Ahead Eagles were about to be regulated when Noppert, playing in the elite division for the first time in four years, intervened.
He eventually returned to Heerenveen after a successful season, bringing his career full circle.
He was called up by Louis van Gaal in September of this year to the national team camp to fill in for seasoned goalie Remko Pasveer. Noppert started against Senegal in Doha despite not taking part in any of the Netherlands’ World Cup qualifying games in Qatar. A player with only 52 club football appearances and no prior international experience kept Boulaye Dia, Idrissa Gueye, and Youssouf Sabaly from scoring. Noppert now hopes that, as a result of this performance, van Gaal will maintain him as his first-choice goalkeeper for the World Cup.
