Manager Ronald Koeman announces Dutch squad for European Championships this summer
Quinten Timber, Ian Maatsen, and Nick Olij will not join the Dutch national team when Oranje heads to the European Championships in Germany. They were not named to the squad of 26 players that manager Ronald Koeman announced on Wednesday.
The three were part of the provisional squad of 30 players, along with the Marten de Roon, who announced on Monday that he would not recover from his injuries in time.
Koeman announced his squad of 23 field players and three goalkeepers after a three-day training camp with 17 internationals in Zeist. He has given his players two days off and will restart training on Saturday with a large part of his squad in preparation for the European Championships.
Timber has not been fit enough to train with the national squad in the last few days. Maatsen will be playing in the UEFA Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid on Saturday, but Koeman has two other left-backs in his squad with Mickey van de Ven and Daley Blind. Goalkeepers Bart Verbruggen, Mark Flekken, and Justin Bijlow were picked above Olij.
All 24 participants must submit their definitive European Championship squad to UEFA by June 7. If a player becomes seriously injured after this, a replacement can be called up if it is before the first group stage match against Poland on June 16 and with UEFA’s permission. Goalkeepers can be replaced up to the second group match against France on June 21.
Koeman said in his press conference in Zeist that he expects midfielder Frenkie de Jong to be fit for the side's opening match. "But I do not know how long he will play in the match."
The 27-year-old FC Barcelona midfielder got his third ankle injury of the season on April 21 against Real Madrid and did not play a match for the rest of the season. The midfielder, who has 54 caps for the Netherlands, missed two months at the start of the season and also did not play in March due to injuries. "But from what I understand, he is on schedule for his recovery. He will be with us on Saturday."
Memphis Depay is another injury doubt in the squad. The forward has been very injury-prone for his club side, Atletico Madrid, this season. He was scheduled to have his first training session on Saturday, but he took the initiative to start on Tuesday.
Koeman said that he looked fit and should be ready for the first match against Poland after the two friendly matches. Depay will be without a club during the tournament and will be hoping to impress some of the scouts watching.
Oranje will play friendlies against Canada on June 6, and Iceland on June 10 in De Kuip in Rotterdam prior to the tournament.
The Dutch team departs for Wolfsburg on June 11, where the squad will stay and train during the European Championships.
Goalkeepers
- Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord)
- Mark Flekken (Brentford)
- Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders
- Nathan Aké (Manchester City)
- Daley Blind (Girona FC)
- Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
- Denzel Dumfries (Internazionale)
- Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
- Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord)
- Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern München)
- Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)
- Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale)
Midfielders
- Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
- Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona)
- Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta)
- Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan)
- Jerdy Schouten (PSV)
- Joey Veerman (PSV)
- Georginio Wijnaldum (Al Ettifaq)
Attackers
- Steven Bergwijn (Ajax)
- Brian Brobbey (Ajax)
- Memphis Depay (Atlético Madrid)
- Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
- Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)
- Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)
- Wout Weghorst (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim)
Reporting by ANP