Man Utd duo Zirkzee and De Ligt omitted from Netherlands squad

Manager Ronald Koeman has selected a 25-man squad for the fixtures, which will see the Dutch team host Spain in Rotterdam on 20 March, followed by an away leg in Valencia three days later.

Zirkzee, the 23-year-old striker who earned his senior debut at Euro 2024 against Turkey, has accumulated six caps since his first appearance for the national team. However, his recent form with Manchester United has not been enough to secure a spot in the coach's squad.

Zirkzee has featured primarily as a substitute for Manchester United, with limited starting appearances in the Premier League this season, scoring three goals to date.

Similarly, De Ligt, 25, has been a regular in the Netherlands squad since his first cap in 2017. Despite his established international experience and a recent goal in United's 3-2 victory over Ipswich, he has struggled to regain his previous form at Old Trafford. De Ligt's form has been under scrutiny after several high-profile mistakes.

Koeman, reflecting on his recent performances, acknowledged that De Ligt is currently enduring a challenging spell where his errors are being heavily punished.

The provisional squad, which Koeman is set to trim next week, includes notable Premier League players such as Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch from Liverpool, as well as Arsenal's Jurrien Timber and Manchester City's Nathan Ake.

Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken, Nick Olij and Bart Verbruggen

Defenders: Nathan Ake, Virgil van Dijk, Denzel Dumfries, Jeremie Frimpong, Lutsharel Geertruida, Jorrel Hato, Jan Paul van Hecke, Jurrien Timber and Stefan de Vrij

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch, Frenkie de Jong, Teun Koopmeiners, Tijjani Reijnders, Jerdy Schouten, Xavi Simons and Kenneth Taylor

Forwards: Brian Brobbey, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Justin Kluivert, Noa Lang and Donyell Malen

 

February 28, 2025