Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has heaped praise on Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen but refused to 100% back him to be his starting goalkeeper at Euro 2024.
Voetbalzone cover comments from the Netherlands manager today after he was again asked about his goalkeepers following this international break.
Koeman is yet to fully commit to who will be his goalkeeper at Euro 2024, having bounced between various options between the sticks over the course of the last year or so.
Brighton goalkeeper Verbruggen is one of those who has been given his chance to impress, first breaking through with Anderlecht before his big move to the Seagulls in the summer.
He’s been in and out under Roberto de Zerbi this season but is expected to be the long-term number one for Brighton moving forwards.
That is also the aim for the Netherlands, for whom he made his debut in October 2023 against France and has since added appearances against Greece, Ireland, Gibraltar and Germany.
The latter came in the Netherlands’ 2-1 defeat on Tuesday and Koeman was full of praise for the Brighton man after that game, backing him for big things in future too.
“I am very satisfied with both Mark (Flekken) and Bart,” he said.
“It gives a lot of pleasure to have a goalkeeper at this age who can handle the level well, maybe even very well, and who will only get better.
“We’ll just have to wait and see until the summer. It is clear that there has been unrest among the goalkeepers, especially due to injuries. Ideally, you want a permanent first goalkeeper and also three permanent goalkeepers for an international period.”
