Yes, there are a few surprises in there. The biggest headline is the first call-up for Kees Smit, who’s been doing well at club level and now gets his shot with the national team.
Most of the squad is made up of the usual names, so no big shocks there. Still, a couple of unexpected picks stand out, showing that good performances haven’t gone unnoticed.
At the same time, a few players who people might have expected didn’t make the cut — whether because of injuries, form, or just the coach’s choices.
All in all, it’s a mix of experienced players and some fresh energy, as the Netherlands gets ready for the next set of games.
Absents
Crysencio Summerville is one of the notable absentees. The West Ham United forward was expected to earn a call-up, but he missed the most recent matches due to injury. Summerville is still eligible to represent Suriname as well.
Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt and Justin Kluivert will also miss the international break, as they’ve been dealing with longer-term injuries. Guus Til, who was another option for selection, is sidelined too.
Squad
Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Justin Bijlow (Genoa CFC), Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Mark Flekken (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Noa Lang (Galatasaray), Donyell Malen (AS Roma), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur), Kees Smit (AZ), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Quinten Timber (Olympique Marseille), Luciano Valente (Feyenoord), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion), Stefan de Vrij (Inter) and Wout Weghorst (Ajax).
Some interesting choices and indications. De Ligt might not be ready in time (severe back issues) which might be a chance for the likes of De Vrij. In my book, Van Hecke, Virgil, Timber, Ake and VD Ven should be enough to cover the central defenders. But it seems Koeman wants more options. Hato as left back is good, but we might need something extra there. Maybe Maatsen?
Veerman is again not selected, even with Frenkie missing. Kees Smit is the logical replacement (is what Koeman thinks). The coach wants to get 3 young high potentials in the squad.
Valente seems to be a sure thing and Kees Smit might well be the second. For the third, it will be Emegha, Meerdink or Summerville (provided these will be fit).
Koopmeiners is back but Wieffer is not (yet) asked back. Koeman will also select players on personality. Koopmeiners is considered a “safe bet” to spend 5 weeks on tour with.
Memphis is a question mark just like Weghorst. Both didn’t have a great period, recently, also due to injuries.
Malen is on fire in Italy and like Billow and Taylor, in the spotlight. Taylor misses out now, but is probably close to a return. We’ll see Malen as central striker, I think, with Gakpo in a 4-4-2 with a box midfield If I have to guess. He might try Brobbey as striker in the other game. I like Brobbey, in England they do rate him very high, due to his ability to hold up the ball so well.
De Ligt is a huge loss as he was on fire before the injury. From Koeman’s interview, he said that he see Depay as main striker with Weghorst as target man in case we need. It is very unlikely that he will change. Gakpo’s form is dropping too much that he is no longer starting at Liverpool. I think this is even higher risk given Isaak will return soon. Without Isaak, his game time is already getting competition from both Wirzt and Rio. With Isaak, it will be even harder for him.
Ideally, we should use Summerville – Malen – Frimpong if they are not injured but those front 3 are frequently injured so it is still unknown who will go to World Cup and lead the front line.
Those trio are most inform forwards we have..Depay is maximum 30 minutes player..weghorst is just a pinch hitter..shoudl not starting..
Veerman is injuried, my guess is that Valente got lucky because of that… Smit the biggest young talent, promissing who also stated he wants to make a move to the top in Holland, and also doesn´t want another year at AZ. I guess only PSV can buy him, fix value plus 20%, maybe ?
PSV is good at eredivise,nobody at champions league, as of now.,Veerman is a softie..He has to prove in tough leagues..Mats weiffer is better at brighton in tough league.Koeman learned his lesson with veerman after france humiliation..
From the selection i would like to see
Lang———Malen——Frimpong
————–Smit————————
—-Reinders—-Gravenberch———
Hato–Virgil–Van hecke—Timber
———–Vverburggen—————-
are the best combination starting eleven we have..with simons,Schouten,Depay,valente comes in later stage of game..
Other than picking Van de Ven ahead of Hato, I’d like to see that lineup.
Van De ven is pure Center back,We cannot play good one touch wall pass game football with van de ven as left back..He is an excellent LCB,..only thing he can do as left back is defend,..i would never play van deven as left back ,beacuse it kills football..
liverpool fas are furious on slot..tey have a valid reason too..Gakpo was back and they lost to brighton… ja ja ja
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9cJ_eK-WKA…..He subbed everyone except Gakpo….
Tiju, I’m getting the feeling that you don’t think Slot is a very good coach. 😉 If Liverpool lets him go, he’ll probably become the next NT coach, assuming Koeman leaves after the WC.
Slot is still an upgrade over koeman ,,,i dont like Dumb actions…insanity is that doing the same thing expecting different result..slot is doing that in liverpool with one trick pony Gakpo..He won a match 4-0 without gakpo and suddenly he started gakpo again and lost..now he will drop gakpo again..
Jurien Timber out,Geetruida In..still recovery from last injury..He needs rest.hope takes one month off.
I dont follow Bijlow,any one is following him?,whats the reason behind his selection??He scares me the SHi##ts out..
Few players dropped out due to injury?Timber is one then who else?..One thing i am sure that De ligt has serious back issue he wot play WC..Frenkie ,Timber will be back.also i would love to see summerville to make the WC..
Who will be in my squad..
Gks
Verbuggen,Roefs,Flekken–3
Defenders
Timber,Van hecke,Virgil,Hato-Dumfries-De vrij-Van de ven-Ake,Maatsen-9 nos
Midfeilders
Frenkie,Gravenberch,Reinders,Schouten,Smit,Quinten,Simons-7 nos
Forwards
Malen,Frimpong-Lang,Summerville,Brobbey,Memphis,Gakpo-7 nos