Injured Barcelona star in, but Bologna’s top scorer out of Netherlands squad

Ahead of their opening group stage game against Poland in the Euro 2024 in Germany in June, the Netherlands released a 30-man squad list, which will be trained to 26 for the competition on Thursday. 

Perhaps in one of the most surprising selections yet, Ronald Koeman has extended a call to injured Barcelona midfielder Frankie de Jong but has opted to leave out Bologna’s top scorer in Serie A this season, Joshua Zirkzee.

There is also a place for the former skipper of the team, Saudi Arabia-based Gini Wijnaldum. The 30-man squad is still expected to be trimmed down to 26 before the start of the competition on May 29.

The Oranjes will face Iceland and Canada in international friendlies before the start of the Euro championships. Star players Memphis Depay, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and striker Cody Gakpo are included.

There are also four goalkeepers in the provisional squad, including the Premier League duo of Mark Flekken of Brentford and Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen. The Netherlands is in the same group as France, Austria, and Poland.

Netherlands’ provisional 30-player Euro 2024 squad:

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Mark Flekken (Brentford), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion), Nick Olij (Sparta Rotterdam).

Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Girona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Ian Maatsen (Borussia Dortmund), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan).

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Jerdy Schouten (PSV Eindhoven), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Quinten Timber (Feyenoord), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Georginio Wijnaldum (Al-Ettifaq).

Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Wout Weghorst (Hoffenheim, on loan from Burnley).