Frank de Boer’s 34-man Netherlands squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 campaign announced on Friday had some major surprises alongside the usual suspects.
While defenders Virgil van Dijk and Sven Botman have been left out of the squad, Aston Villa’s Anwar El-Ghazi has earned a recall after a long exile of six years.
Van Dijk had already ruled himself out of the competition as he wants to regain full fitness ahead of the 2021-22 season. Botman, on the other hand, who plays for Lille, has been included in Netherlands’ Under-21 side instead.
The squad also doesn’t consist of veterans like Arjen Robben, Ryan Babel and Kevin Strootman. There were speculations that Robben in particular might earn a recall as he assisted twice in FC Groningen’s 4-0 win against FC Emmen, after missing the majority of the season through injury.
Robben had said after the game that he would ‘say yes’ if De Boer wants to have him in the squad. But the Dutch manager was quick to squash rumours.
“Never say never, but at this moment I don’t see it happening,” De Boer said during a press conference.
The 37-year-old has scored 37 goals in 96 appearances for the national team but as confirmed by De Boer, he isn’t in his scheme of things right now.
The squad includes eight players who are representing different players in the Premier League, though. That includes Manchester City’s Nathan Ake, Crystal Palace’s Patrick van Aanholt, Brighton’s Joel Veltman, Manchester United’s Donny van De Beek, Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum, Villa’s Anwar El Ghazi, Tottenham’s Steven Bergwijn and Fulham’s Kenny Tete.
The final squad, however, will be reduced to 26 players after UEFA extended the squad size to 26 from 23.
Netherlands are placed alongside Ukraine, North Macedonia and Austria in their Euro 2020-21 Group. They will start their campaign against Ukraine on June 13.
Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Bizot (AZ), Cillessen (Valencia), Krul (Norwich), Stekelenburg (Ajax).
Defenders: Van Aanholt (Palace), Ake (Manchester City), Blind (Ajax), Dumfries (PSV), Hateboer (Atalanta), Karsdorp (Roma), De Ligt (Juventus), St. Juste (Mainz 05), Tete (Fulham), Timber (Ajax), Veltman (Brighton), De Vrij (Inter Milan), Windal (AZ).
Midfielders: Van de Beek (Manchester United), Gravenberch (Ajax), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Klaassen (Ajax), Koopmeiners (AZ), De Roon (Atalanta), Vilhena (FK Krasnodar), Wijnaldum (Liverpool).
Forwards: Berghuis (Feyenoord), Bergwijn (Tottenham), El Ghazi (Aston Villa), Gakpo (PSV), L. De Jong (Sevilla), Malen (PSV), Memphis (Lyon), Promes (Ajax), Weghorst (Wolfsburg).
