Long-serving Dutch goalkeeper Tim Krul has been dumped by national team boss Louis van Gaal after he apparently refused to take part in penalty shoot-out training.
The former Manchester United manager has said the 34-year-old has no ‘future’ in international football and will not go to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Norwich glovemaker Krul has been a regular for the Netherlands side since his debut against Brazil in 2011.
But he was left out of the 25-man squad for their Nations League games against Poland and Belgium.
Despite missing out on a spot in the squad, Krul was invited to take part in a specialist penalty shoot-out training session during the international break, alongside goalkeepers called Ajax’s Remko Pasveer, Jasper Cillessen from the NEC, Mark Flekken from Freiburg and Andries Noppert. from Herenveen.
However, the veteran declined the offer.
Krul is known as a penalty shootout specialist and was even brought in by Van Gaal for a penalty shootout against Costa Rica at the 2014 World Cup, replacing Cillessen and making two saves to see the Netherlands up in the semi-finals. -finals.
But now it looks like his international career is over – as long as Van Gaal remains in charge, at least.
Van Gaal told the media about the situation: “Krul called me to tell me that he would pass.
“I thought it was a shame because I know he stops the most penalties stat-wise.
“There is no future for him in the Oranje, because he did not want to come. This is the consequence of his decision.
“I always thought that we could lead to a penalty.
“Not the timing and the pressure, but you can automate your process and that gives confidence.
“I convinced the boys that they can do something about it, that the club’s players will train for the penalty shoot-out.
“You can’t change their club’s training policy, but you can ask them to practice their own penalty kicks.”
Despite being in the squad since 2011 and playing at all levels for his country since 2002, Krul has only made 15 senior appearances for the Netherlands.
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