Dutch Player Virgil van Dijk Rescues 'Forgotten' World Cup Player: 'Then I Called My Wife...'

Over three and a half years after the World Cup in Qatar, Noppert reminisces about his unexpected adventure with the Dutch national team. The 'Tower of Joure' shares, among other things, a peculiar day for players who didn't have family members visit. An evening at an exclusive restaurant in Doha took a rather remarkable turn for him.

After an elaborate dinner, the players decided to split the bill in a playful manner. All debit cards were placed into a bag, and then ten were randomly returned. The owner of the last remaining card ultimately had to pay the entire amount. "When it came down to the last three cards, you knew what was coming," Noppert laughs years later, with a wry smile, in an interview with ESPN.

His premonition turned out to be correct: of all people, the Dutch national team debutant, playing for mid-table club sc Heerenveen, had to foot the exorbitant bill of around six thousand euros. "I felt I had to be a big boy and indeed paid. Then I walked to the restroom, called my wife, and said: we have a small problem…"

Ultimately, the now 32-year-old Noppert did receive help from the Dutch squad. "Sometimes you have to bite the bullet," responds the five-time international, who remarkably hasn't played a single international match since the World Cup. "They were expensive blisters, but fortunately Van Dijk and Vincent Janssen eventually helped me out. It was still a lot, but it was a huge relief compared to six thousand euros."

Looking back, the current third-choice goalkeeper for sc Heerenveen can laugh about it. "Those are incredibly beautiful moments, experiences that no one can ever take away from me. But it remains bizarre that food can cost so much money. It was sushi you could see through. Never seen anything like it," says the down-to-earth Frisian.

In the autumn of 2022, the sc Heerenveen goalkeeper experienced the best period of his career. Suddenly, he found himself among global stars, luxurious dinners, and sky-high bills. Now, in the north, he has had to settle for a role as third-choice keeper.

"I'm in a bit of a slump now, but a peak might be coming again. In football, you never know; you just have to see what comes. That's how I've always done it, and it has always worked out. That's how I'm doing it again now," Noppert concludes.

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