Jonker brings youngster Kaptein to Orange for practice matches, Groenen absent

National coach Andries Jonker has called up Wieke Kaptein and Sicca Folkertsma for the practice internationals against Germany and Poland. The 17-year-old Kaptein (FC Twente) was not previously part of the selection. Last season she was named Talent of the Year in the premier league.

Folkertsma (Girondins de Bordeaux) is back in the squad for the first time since she suffered a serious knee injury in late 2021.

In total, Jonker selected 26 players for the two practice matches in April. Jackie Groenen will not be there: the Paris Saint-Germain player is injured. Jill Roord is back. She missed the international matches against Costa Rica and Denmark in November and the duel with Austria in February due to injury.

Jonker: “Wieke Kaptein is already one of the engines of FC Twente. She is very young but if you play well every week, you force an invitation to the Dutch national team.”

“I don’t know Sisca Folkertsma yet, but the images I’ve seen of her looked promising. She is still on her way back from her injury, but we are very curious to see where she is now and this inter-county window offers a great opportunity to see her at work,” Jonker said.

The Dutch will play Germany, ranked number two in the world on Friday, April 7, in Sittard. Five days later, on Tuesday, April 11, Poland is the opponent at the Sparta Stadium in Rotterdam. Both matches start at 8 p.m.

The two internationals are in preparation for the World Cup, which will be held next summer starting July 20 in Australia and New Zealand. The Orange will then meet Portugal, the United States and Vietnam in the group stage, respectively.