Erwin van de Looi has announced the line-up of the Dutch Juniors for the first group match at the European Championship against Young Belgium. There are no big surprises to be observed. As announced, Bart Verbruggen is preferred to Kjell Scherpen, while Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, hanging on the right, has to provide the supply towards striker Brian Brobbey. The match starts at 6 p.m. and can be viewed on NPO 2.
Verbruggen defends the Dutch duel. The defense, from right to left, consists of Devyne Rensch, Jan Paul van Hecke, Micky van de Ven and Quilindschy Hartman. The midfield is formed by Quinten Timber, Ryan Gravenberch and Kenneth Taylor. Ekkelenkamp is hanging on the right, next to Brobbey. The striker must be served from the left by Crysencio Summerville. On the side of Young Belgium, Loïs Openda, among others, has been assigned a basic place.
On Sunday it became clear that Openda would definitely participate in the European Championship. A big stroke of luck for Young Belgium, as the striker of RC Lens had an excellent debut season in Ligue 1 with 21 goals. PSV player Johan Bakayoko is not there. The winger was initially selected by national coach Jacky Mathijssen, but after Kevin De Bruyne’s injury, he was transferred to the main squad of Belgium. Remarkably enough, Young Belgium last won at a European Championship sixteen years ago. “We absolutely have to break with that”, Mathijssen was clear. Ameen Al-Dakhil, Olivier Deman and Aster Vranckx were still with Belgium in Estonia on Tuesday. The duel with the Dutch Juniors therefore comes too early for them.
The first basic player of the Dutch Juniors was announced on Tuesday. Van de Looi announced that Verbruggen has been appointed as the first goalkeeper. “Bart has just done an excellent job in recent months. He has developed well and he has qualities that suit our style of play,” said Van de Looi. On Monday, the captain of the Dutch Juniors was also announced: Quinten Timber. “Hopefully I can lead my team to something great,” he told the NOS. If the Dutch Juniors succeed in reaching the top three of the tournament, the Netherlands will qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. If Young France reaches the semi-finals, a place in the last four is enough for an Olympic ticket.
?? The line-up of the Dutch Juniors for the European Championship match with Belgium! #BELNED pic.twitter.com/DYFBaDVYsC
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) June 21, 2023
Young Belgium: Vandevoordt; Patris, De Winter, Debast, De Cuyper; Keita, Matazo, Raskin; Vertessen, Openda, De Ketelaere.
Young Netherlands: Verbruggen; Rensch, Van Hecke, Van de Ven, Hartman; Q. Timber, Gravenberch, Taylor; Ekkelenkamp, Brobbey, Summerville.