Ten years ago, Jasper Cillessen was starting nearly every game for the Netherlands national team. The former Ajax and Barcelona shot stopper started between the sticks in every game during the 2014 World Cup, as the Netherlands reached the semi-finals of the competition. Cillessen’s last appearance for the national team came over a year ago, and a few poor performances for NEC Nijmegen last season saw him drop out of Ronald Koeman’s squad for good.
This season, NEC are flying high in the Eredivisie table, having won 11 and drawn 10 of their 28 games so far this season. Jasper Cillessen has played 25 of those games for the side sat sixth in the table, on course for a finish in the European play-off places. The 34-year-old hit the headlines last weekend after he saved Luuk de Jong’s penalty in NEC’s remarkable 3-1 victory over league leaders PSV.
Speaking to ESPN after the game, the experienced keeper revealed that this summer’s European Championship in Germany is high on his mind after his improved performances in the Eredivisie. Cillessen revealed that he is currently ‘in contact’ with the Dutch national team goalkeeper coach. Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen, Brentford’s Mark Flekken and Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow are all options for Ronald Koeman, making it an incredibly difficult task for Jasper Cillessen to wiggle his way into the squad. With six league games remaining and the KNVB Cup final against Feyenoord still to play, there’s plenty of time for Cillessen to keep impressing.
