Dick Advocaat has named his provisional Netherlands squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers with France and Bulgaria. Robin van Persie and Ryan Babel are the surprise inclusions.
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Van Persie hasn’t represented the Netherlands since the defeat to the Czech Republic in October 2015 ended Oranje’s chances of reaching Euro 2016. However, Advocaat has named the striker in a provisional squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against France (31st) and Bulgaria (3rd September).
Other surprise inclusions are Ajax midfielder Donny van de Beek, PSVs Jurgen Locadia and Ryan Babel, who has rediscovered his top form in recent seasons and is currently with Besiktas in Turkey.
Advocaat will whittle his squad down over the next week.
The full provisional squad is:
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona), Maarten Stekelenburg (Everton), Jeroen Zoet (PSV).
Defenders: Nathan Aké (AFC Bournemouth), Daley Blind (Manchester United), Wesley Hoedt (Lazio), Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax), Bruno Martins Indi (Stoke City), Karim Rekik (Hertha BSC), Kenny Tete (Olympique Lyon), Joël Veltman (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Lazio).
Midfield: Donny van de Beek (Ajax), Marco van Ginkel (PSV), Davy Klaassen (Everton), Davy Pröpper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Wesley Sneijder (OGC Nice), Kevin Strootman (AS Roma), Jens Toornstra (Feyenoord), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool).
Attack: Ryan Babel (Besiktas), Steven Berghuis (Feyenoord), Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyon), Bas Dost (Sporting Lisbon), Eljero Elia (Istanbul Basaksehir), Vincent Janssen (Tottenham Hotspur), Jeremain Lens (Besiktas), Jürgen Locadia (PSV), Robin van Persie (Fenerbahçe), Quincy Promes (Spartak Moscow), Arjen Robben (Bayern München).
2 right footed centre backs, no competition amongst keepers, no true left back (Pieters, Willems, van Aanholt) and no VvD. Clasie? Nigel de Jong? Padt, Mulder, Bizot? Hopefully this squad can get it done! Good mix between young and old, but some good players are not there! Let’s just qualify for now! We can go from there!
I think advocaat should use the proven-successful 3-5-2 scheme with:
————————cilessen———————-
De vrij ————–van dijk————–hodet
Veltman–strootman–wijnaldum–blind
————————-sneijder———————-
————–robben————–janssen——–
But unfortunately Advocaat didn’t even call VvD.
Martins indi should never play if netherlands want to make it to russia next year.
Agree that Pieters should have been selected, but not Willems or van Aanholt. France’s wingers would rip the latter 2 players to shreds.
Clasie has no business being in the national team right now. His playing time is close to zero.
For Clasie, I don’t believe it is any fault of his own. As for Willems and PvA, it is true that they might be torn apart by the France wingers, hopefully Willems blossoms into a well rounded player in Germany. What are your thoughts on the team to be picked? Khaled Khaled’s 3-5-2. And (we all know he hasn’t played), but VvD’s omission?
Well I do agree that it isn’t Clasie’s fault he doesn’t play, but at the same time I can’t fault Advocaat for not selecting him for lack of playing time.
As for the side, i’m still a proponent of the 5-3-2 (or 3-5-2 if you want to call it that). Gives them the best defensive security and with players like Robben and Promes they can cause problems on the counterattack. And as
we all know the Dutch have proven they can use it effectively against stronger sides.
Khaled’s side looks good in that regard but I would swap Tete for Veltman, Ake for VVD (assuming the latter isn’t called), and probably Promes for Janssen.
Again its a disgrace.
Where is the LB – surely not Blind or BMI!
Where is VVD?
Apart from this you look at the backs and mids and good squad. Should have a real chance
Then continue to forwards and go, oh (expletive)
Good to see Donny in squad.
I’d line it up as:
——————Stekelenburg——————
——Veltman——-De Vrij———Hoedt——-
————-Vilhenna——Strootman————
—–Wijnaldum——Klassen——–Sneijder—–
————-Robben———Promes————–