The Netherlands national football team is in a difficult situation as it prepares for the forthcoming EURO 2024 qualification against France and Greece. As we go into the specifics of their current situation, the qualities of bewilderment and burstiness are critical.
Coach Ronald Koeman has made some interesting decisions, introducing an uncapped talent, Nick Olij from Sparta Rotterdam, to replace the previous first-choice goalkeeper, Andries Noppert, who had represented the team in the last World Cup but has now been left out of the squad.
Sadly, the Dutch team has a number of injuries that have left them considerably undermanned. Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, Cody Gakpo, and Memphis Depay will all miss these vital games due to injury. The team’s performance is made more unpredictable by this bad circumstance.
To address this challenge, Koeman has opted to recall some familiar faces. The striking duo of Steven Bergwijn and Brian Brobbey from Ajax Amsterdam makes a return, injecting a burst of offensive potential. Additionally, Jeremie Frimpong, the German-based wingback, is back in contention, although he’s yet to earn a cap, making his inclusion an intriguing aspect of the squad.
In terms of group standings, the Dutch find themselves in a competitive Group B. They currently hold nine points from four matches, trailing leaders France, who boast a flawless record. Greece also has nine points but has played an additional match compared to the Dutch, while Ireland sits in fourth place with three points.
Let’s take a closer look at the composition of the Netherlands squad:
Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Brentford), Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion).
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Girona), Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries (both Inter Milan), Lutsharel Geertruida, Quilindschy Hartman (both Feyenoord), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), and Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).
Midfielders: Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Mats Wieffer (Feyenoord).
Forwards: Steven Berghuis, Steven Bergwijn, and Brian Brobbey (all Ajax Amsterdam), Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), and Wout Weghorst (TSG Hoffenheim).
The Netherlands faces a challenging road ahead, but with the right mix of experience and emerging talent, they aim to secure a place at next year’s finals in Germany.