Louis van Gaal announced the final selection of the Dutch national team for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers on Friday afternoon. The national coach of the Dutch national team lets Donny van de Beek and Remko Pasveer lose weight compared to the preselection that was announced exactly two weeks ago. The players will report to the Dutch national team no later than Monday morning, depending on their club obligations during the weekend.
European Championship goers such as Denzel Dumfries and Patrick van Aanholt, but also Jasper Cillessen, Marco Bizot and Quincy Promes were not part of the preselection due to a lack of fitness and/or match rhythm. Dumfries was nevertheless selected. Steven Bergwijn was also not in the pre-selection, but was selected anyway. Devyne Rensch and Tyrell Malacia make their debut in the final selection. Guus Til, Joël Drommel, Justin Bijlow are the other notable names.
Matthijs de Ligt is not available in the first World Cup qualifier against Norway. The defender received a red card in the eighth finals against the Czech Republic at the European Championship and must therefore serve a suspension. The defender of Juventus is available in the international matches against Montenegro and Turkey.
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— OurOrange (@OnsOrange) August 27, 2021
The road that the Dutch national team has to take
On Wednesday, September 1, the the Dutch squad will play in and against Norway in the World Cup qualifiers. This is followed by duels with Montenegro (September 4) and Turkey (September 7). At the moment, the the Dutch squad occupies second place in Group G with six points from three games and Turkey is in the lead with seven points. Montenegro and Norway are also on six points, but are lower than the Netherlands due to a less goal difference. Only the number one in the group qualifies directly for the World Cup in Qatar. The numbers two from the ten different groups and the two best group winners from the 2020/21 Nations League who fall outside the top two of their World Cup qualifying group will participate in the play-offs.
The total of twelve countries will be divided into three play-off paths, each containing two semi-finals over one match and one final. The home teams in the play-offs are determined by drawing lots, with the six best numbers two placed and therefore unable to meet. The winner of each path qualifies for the 2022 World Cup.
The final selection of the Dutch national team:
Target: Joël Drommel (PSV), Tim Krul (Norwich City), Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord)
Defense: Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Tyrell Malacia (Feyenoord), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Jurriën Timber, Daley Blind, Devyne Rensch (all Ajax)
Midfield: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Georginio Wijnaldum (Paris Saint-Germain), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax), Guus Til (Feyenoord), Teun Koopmeiners (AZ)
Attack: Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Steven Bergwijn (Tottenham Hotspur), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Cody Gakpo (PSV), Wout Weghorst (VfL Wolfsburg) and Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund).