Van Gaal's No 1 wild card Noppert ready to repel Messi

A move to Ajax, unsurprisingly, has been mooted. But Andries Noppert has business to attend to here first. Cap number five and the other team’s No.10.

ROOKIE INTERNATIONAL: USA's Christian Pulisic is thwarted by Netherlands goalkeeper Andries Noppert. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

THE 12-foot high fencing with screens wrapped around meant you couldn’t see with your eyes. But there are other ways.

Somewhere behind that fence the unmistakable pop pop pop of well-hit balls being repelled by strong gloved fingers told you shooting practice was underway and the goalkeeper was doing a hell of a job. A guard high up on a bank above us stood on his tippy toes. A migrant worker like all security staff here, he was keeping a watch on only one thing. “How do they look?” we asked him. “They look very good, sir,” was the verdict. “Very strong.”