Credit: Twitter
Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has announced his 25-man squad for the upcoming European qualifiers against Greece and Ireland, but there is no place for star forward Memphis Depay, who is sidelined with an injury. Steven Bergwijn is also injured, having missed out on Thursday's match for Ajax Amsterdam against Ludogorets Razgrad in the Europa League.
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Depay suffered an injury last week during Atlético Madrid’s 7-0 win against Rayo Vallecano, which rules him out of the Dutch squad again, having also missed the Nations League finals in June. It is unfortunate for the star forward, as he has started the season in impressive fashion, scoring two goals in three games for Athletico de Madrid.
Newcastle United defender Sven Botman, who injured his ankle against Liverpool on Sunday, was also left out when coach Ronald Koeman announced his squad on Friday. Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Ian Maatsen (Chelsea), and Quilindschy Hartman (Feyenoord) all received their maiden call-ups.
The Netherlands take on Greece in Eindhoven on Friday, September 8, and then take on the Irish in Dublin three days later.
Here’s the full squad:
Goalkeepers:
Mark Flekken (Brentford), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), and Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders:
Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Girona), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries (both Inter Milan), Lutsharel Geertruida, Quilindschy Hartman (both Feyenoord), Ian Maatsen (Chelsea), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielders:
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners (both Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Mats Wieffer (Feyenoord)
Forwards: Steven Berghuis (Ajax Amsterdam), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Wout Weghorst (TSG Hoffenheim)
