Koeman reveals Netherlands World Cup roster including Timber and Depay, Frimpong omitted

Koeman reveals Netherlands World Cup roster including Timber and Depay, Frimpong omitted
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Memphis Depay, the top scorer and assist leader in Netherlands history, has recovered from a hamstring injury just in time for the World Cup. Arsenal's Jurrien Timber has also been selected, despite earlier uncertainty from manager Ronald Koeman.

Koeman has also called up Bournemouth's Justin Kluivert following months of injury problems. Kluivert will be useful in Oranje's attacking midfield, where Tottenham's Xavi Simons will be absent after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in April.

Simons is one of two important midfielders who will miss the tournament because of injury, along with PSV captain Jerdy Schouten who is also sidelined with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Joey Veerman, a Schouten teammate and the Flashscore Eredivisie Player of the Season, was not included in Koeman's confidential 55-man provisional squad. Veerman has not featured for the Netherlands since Euro 2024 and recently openly criticised Koeman's management of the situation. 'If you continue holding press conferences like that and claiming I am not a good person, then at some point I will have had enough. He does not need to contact me any more,' Veerman told ESPN.

Marten de Roon comes back to the Oranje squad, having last played for the Netherlands in March 2024. The Atalanta skipper takes the place of Schouten and Veerman in the 26-strong squad. Guus Til of PSV is another returning player, with the six-time international having only appeared once for the Netherlands since June 2022.

Stefan de Vrij and Jeremie Frimpong are other noteworthy absentees.

The complete World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton)

Defenders: Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Spurs), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton), Mats Wieffer (Brighton)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Guus Til (PSV), Quinten Timber (Olympique Marseille)

Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli), Donyell Malen (Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)