Koeman calls debutants Verbruggen, Geertruida and Wieffer for Orange
NOS Football–
Dutch national team coach Ronald Koeman has included three debutants in his first selection. They are Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and Feyenoorders Lutsharel Geertruida and Mats Wieffer.
Brian Brobbey (Ajax) and Sven Botman (Newcastle United) could also make their debuts for Oranje, which plays against France (March 24) and Gibraltar (March 27) at the end of this month. They have been part of the selection before.
Georginio Wijnaldum (AS Roma) returns after missing the World Cup in Qatar due to a serious injury.
The 20-year-old Verbruggen is one of three goalkeepers in the selection. Koeman also called up Jasper Cillessen (NEC) and Mark Flekken (Freiburg). They were left at home at the World Cup under Koeman’s predecessor Louis van Gaal.
Andries Noppert, the surprising first goalkeeper in Qatar, is currently injured, as is Justin Bijlow. Kjell Scherpen of Vitesse was in the pre-selection, but dropped out today.
The 22-year-old defender Geertruida has been an important force for three years at Feyenoord, which is currently leading the Eredivisie and reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League yesterday. His 23-year-old teammate Wieffer has only had a starting place for a few months. The midfielder played last season in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie with Excelsior.
No De Vrij
The most prominent absentee is 59-time international Stefan de Vrij. The 31-year-old defender is not currently a base player at his club Internazionale. Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners is missing due to injury.
Also dropping from the pre-selection are Jordy Clasie (AZ), Jeremie Frimpong (Leverkusen), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Quilindschy Hartman (Feyenoord), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Kenny Tete (Fulham) and Joey Veerman (PSV). Scherpen, Gravenberch, Hartman and Frimpong may report to the young squad.
After the World Cup, strikers Luuk de Jong and Vincent Janssen thanked for Oranje. Defender Denzel Dumfries was suspended for the first European Championship qualifier due to his red card (twice yellow) after the World Cup match against Argentina.
On Monday, the Orange will assemble in Zeist. Koeman’s final selection has 25 names. There may be 23 players on the match sheet, so two players will have to sit in the stands at all times.
