The promising Brighton goalkeeper had not yet saved a single penalty in an official match.
Ronald Koeman has given the Dutch national team goalkeeper position to Bart Verbruggen, the player who is on a roll for Brighton in the Premier League . Against Spain in the Nations League , he showed that the 22-year-old not only covers the net with his 1.94m height, but also knows how to make the perfect save in one-on-ones. At Mestalla , he saved two clear goals from Nico Williams - always a better player than a finisher - and another from Oyarzabal . His good performances between the sticks, however, contrast with his arrogance before penalties. His way of challenging opponents borders on the unsportsmanlike. If he was trying to throw the penalty taker off his game, it didn't work against Spain . Between the match and the shootout, they shot seven times at him and only saved one. Oyarzabal, Merino, Ferran, Aleix, Baena, and Pedri all pierced him, despite the fact that he came close to touching many balls with his long arms. He didn't succeed. But, yes, he can always say that he saved a penalty from Lamine Yamal .
The Barça striker didn't shoot hard or accurately, and Verbruggen guessed right. Just as it was the first Lamine Yamal had missed as a professional, and the first he had attempted, it was also the first penalty saved in Verbruggen 's career in an official match. Up until the Spain game, he had conceded an impressive 15 out of 15. He hadn't saved a single one. Harry Kane had scored against him for the national team at the European Championships. The other 14 were conceded consecutively against Brighton.
So far this season, he has conceded seven penalty goals. Verbruggen has been the victim of Haaland , Cole Palmer , Isak , and Bruno Fernandes , all true specialists. Given his poor numbers, it's best not to make such a fuss and make such a big deal about it, and maybe someone else will be able to score.