Ronald Koeman announces Oranje squad to play Nations League Matches in September
Netherlands men’s football team manager Ronald Koeman announced his squad on Friday for the two matches in the UEFA Nations League in September. The biggest surprise was the inclusion of Jurrien Timber, who returns to the squad after a long time out with an injury.
Jurrien Timber’s brother Quinten is also in the Oranje squad. It will be the first time the two brothers are in the same national team squad. Quinten made his debut for the national side in March in a friendly against Germany.
Timber was not the only surprise inclusion. Young defender Jorrel Hato of Ajax and Sparta Rotterdam goalkeeper Nick Olij will also join the squad in Zeist. Hato has played one match for the national side, and Olij has yet to make his debut.
Koeman was going for a young squad, with more experienced players like Marten de Roon and Georginio Wijnaldum missing out. Memphis Depay was also told that he has to find a new club before he is picked again for the national side. Frenkie de Jong is still missing with an ankle injury.
Other players to miss out on the final squad include Teun Koopmeiners, Mats Wieffer, and Jordan Teze, who finalized a transfer to a new club this summer.
Oranje will play two home matches to kick off their fourth Nations League campaign. They face Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 7 in Eindhoven before playing against Germany on September 10 in Amsterdam. The other team in the group stage is Hungary.
It will be Oranje’s first match since the European Championships of last summer, where they lost to England in the semi-finals.