Ronald Koeman has announced the final selection of the Dutch national team for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers. The 59-year-old national coach decides to reward Lutsharel Geertruida, Mats Wieffer and Bart Verbruggen, among others, for their good performances with a first selection. Georginio Wijnaldum also returns after almost a year of absence. The Netherlands will play two qualifying matches in the coming international period: against France (March 24) and Gibraltar (March 27).
As expected, Wijnaldum returns to the the Dutch. The 86-time international has recently recovered from a broken tibia and is finally making minutes again at the highest level at AS Roma. Wijnaldum was passed by Louis van Gaal a year ago, because he had ended up on the bench at Paris Saint-Germain. That is why the veteran opted for a temporary transfer to Rome. Shortly after his transfer, however, disaster struck: he had to rehabilitate for six months and miss the World Cup in Qatar. Now he’s back.
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Koeman also decides to give Geertruida, Wieffer and Verbruggen, among others, a place in the final selection. It is the first time for the two Feyenoorders, who are at the top of the Eredivisie with their team and are in excellent shape, that they have been included in the the Dutch selection. The national coach also opts for Sven Botman, among others. Players like Joey Veerman, Kenny Tete and Kjell Scherpen have lost weight.
The Dutch national team kicks off the European Championship qualification with a duel with the clear favorite of Group C, France. be on March 24 les Bleus the opponent at the Stade de France. A meeting with Gibraltar awaits three days later, finished in De Kuip. Furthermore, Group C consists of Ireland and Greece. The last game in the first period under Koeman was won 5-0 against Estonia. For the time being, under Koeman’s leadership, there have been eleven wins, five draws and four losses.