FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers — Netherlands squad announced; Verbruggen, Timber out
Uncapped goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen was included in the Netherlands squad on Monday as first choice Bart Verbruggen dropped out of World Cup qualifiers next month.
Scherpen, who won the Austrian Bundesliga title with Sturm Graz this month, has previously been called up as injury cover, although he has yet to play for the Dutch.
Verbruggen played on Sunday for Brighton & Hove Albion as it beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 away in its last Premier League game of the season but Monday's announcement of the 23-man squad by the Dutch football association said he was 'struggling with physical complaints and needed time for the recovery process'.
ALSO READ: Isco makes Spain squad return for Nations League final four
Also missing is Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber after surgery on his ankle.
Netherlands begins its bid to qualify for next year's World Cup finals against Finland away in Helsinki on June 7 and then home to Malta in Groningen on June 10.
NETHERLANDS SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Brentford), Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam), Kjell Scherpen (Sturm Graz)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries (both Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (RB Leipzig), Jorrel Hato (Ajax Amsterdam), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Forwards: Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Aston Villa), Wout Weghorst (Ajax Amsterdam).
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