In a surprise move, Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar has temporarily come out of international retirement to join the Netherlands squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Iceland and Norway.
Van der Sar, who has made a record 128 international appearances for the Dutch national side, is only expected to play against Iceland and Norway before going back into retirement.
The 37-year-old Mancunian has been selected in the 22-man squad because goalkeepers Maarten Stekelenburg of Ajax and Feyenoord's Henk Timmer are both nursing injuries.
Fair enough and I really like to see a legendary player like Van der Sar, but isn’t this the moment for our younger players to get a chance to shine? It’s not like there are no alternatives available.
Let’s have a look at alternatives for Stekelenburg and Timmer.
FC Utrecht goalkeeper Michel Vorm has been in exceptional form over the past few seasons and he can surely rise to the occasion when given a chance. The 24-year-old has been praised by pundits for his cat-like reflexes and composed style of keeping.
FC Utrecht goalie Michel Vorm.
Last summer, he was linked to both Feyenoord and PSV, but both teams were not willing or able to splash their cash on the young goalie. FC Utrecht are not going to let their number one goalie leave cheap.
A second alternative would be Piet Veldhuizen. A player not active for one of the traditional top sides, the 21-year-old goalkeeper is active for Vitesse Arnhem. Velthuizen was given a chance by Vitesse when their expensive foreign goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic proved to be prone to the odd slip-up.
Vitesse Arnhem goalie Piet Velthuizen.
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