Koeman drops Depay, Wijnaldum & De Roon from Dutch football squad

Dutch men’s national football manager Ronald Koeman decided against including Memphis Depay, Georginio Wijnaldum and Marten de Roon in his provisional selection for the team’s Nations League home matches against Bosnia and Herzegovina (September 7) and Germany (September 10). Koeman wants to reinvigorate the Dutch team after the European Championship, and has informed Depay that he will first have to find a new club after his departure from Atlético Madrid before he will be considered for a return to the national team.

“This preliminary selection marks the start of a new period,” Koeman said in a press release of the 35-man roster. Daley Blind announced on Wednesday that he has retired from the Dutch national team after 108 international matches. Frenkie de Jong has not yet recovered from an ankle injury.

“Of course we are focusing on the Nations League this autumn, but we are also looking ahead to the World Cup in two years. I have had personal conversations with Blind, Wijnaldum and De Roon and have explained to them why I am not calling on them, and that I am opting for a number of new, young players,” he continued.

“Memphis will first have to find a club before he comes into our picture again. The group is now somewhat larger than normal and I hope that this will be a nice incentive for everyone.”

“We consciously opted for a number of new faces,” Koeman stated. “And we also had to make choices with regard to a number of experienced boys with a great track record with Oranje.” Current West Ham United player Crysencio Summerville was included in the provisional Oranje selection, along with Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion) and Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth).

Koeman will announce his final selection on August 30. The Dutch men’s national team will open the fourth edition of the Nations League on September 7 with its home match against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Eindhoven. Three days later, the team will face Germany in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Hungary is the remaining team in Oranje’s Nations League group.

Goalkeepers

• Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord)

• Mark Flekken (Brentford)
  
• Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)
  

• Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam)
  

  Defenders
  

• Nathan Aké (Manchester City)
  
• Jorrel Hato (Ajax)
  
• Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
  
• Denzel Dumfries (Internazionale)
  
• Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
  
• Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord)
  
• Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United)
  
• Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)
  
• Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale)
  
• Jurrien Timber (Arsenal)
  
• Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion)
  
• Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa)
  

• Jordan Teze (PSV Eindhoven)
  

  Midfielders
  

• Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
  
• Kenneth Taylor (Ajax )
  
• Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta)
  
• Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan)
  
• Quinten Timber (Feyenoord)
  
• Jerdy Schouten (PSV)
  
• Joey Veerman (PSV)
  

• Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion)
  

  Attackers
  

• Steven Bergwijn (Ajax)
  
• Brian Brobbey (Ajax)
  
• Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth)
  
• Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
  
• Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund)
  
• Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)
  
• Wout Weghorst (Burnley)
  
• Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United)
  
• Joshua Zirkzee (Manchester United)
  
• Noa Lang (PSV)