Vermeer (37) is not out of keeper yet and will help Suriname with World Cup dream

Which goalkeeper came out most often for Orange without getting a single goal against?

Five-time international Kenneth Vermeer won’t be shoring up his record anymore. In his old age (37), he will play for Suriname, which, thanks to the impetus of a lot of (former) premier league pros, wants to compete for the World Cup in 2026.

The Suriname Association further reports that Dhoraso Klas (ADO Den Haag), Stefano Denswil (Trabzonspor) and Daishawn Redan (Venezia) are also making themselves available with immediate effect.

The chances of World Cup placement are greater than ever for national coach Aron Winter’s Suriname. Not only has the final round been expanded from 32 to 48 participants, the country no longer has to contend with Mexico, Canada and the United States. As host countries, they are already automatically qualified for the tournament.

Vermeer already contributed to World Cup qualification as a goalkeeper with the Netherlands, but was never included in a final selection for a final round. Of the dozens of times he served as reserve goalkeeper, the most appealing duels were those in the 2019 Nations League Finals.

Vermeer further went through all the youth teams of the Oranje. He kept at the under-20 World Cup in 2005, which took place in the Netherlands. He became European champion with the Orange in 2006 and 2007 and was also first goalkeeper while participating in the Olympics a year later.

FIFA’s relaxed rules still allow him to change national teams because he has played fewer than three official duels. It is also further than three years since Vermeer was last on the field for Orange. The other three do not have that problem. Denswil and Redan did still play for Jong Oranje.

In any case, it is also clear that the Vermeer is not planning to put away his gloves just yet. The goalkeeper has been clubless since leaving FC Cincinnati in March.