Danny Blind has announced his 23 man squad ahead of the crucial European Championship qualifiers, and there are one or two surprise inclusions.
- By Andy Booth
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Ajax youngsters Jaïro Riedewald, 18, and Kenny Tete, 19, will be hoping to make their Oranje debuts after strong starts to the season. Both players have by-passed the Under 21’s, progressing straight from the Under 19’s to the full national side. Tete’s inclusion in particular has been surprising given he only has 8 Eredivisie appearances to his name; Newcastle’s Daryl Janmaat was the player to make way.
Janmaat’s team-mate on Tyneside Vurnon Anita is somewhat of a surprise inclusion too. The defensive midfielder has an important role in Steve McClaren’s Newcastle side and he has been excellent so far this term for the Magpies, but has not featured for his country since 2010.
The other big news is that Arjen Robben will replace Robin van Persie as captain, which could suggest Blind does not see the Fenerbache striker as a starter.
Blind has been thrown in at the deep end, with his first two games as Oranje coach being hugely important if they are to achieve automatic qualification for Euro 2016. Netherlands host group leaders Iceland at the Amsterdam ArenA on 3rd September before travelling to Turkey three days later.
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Ajax), Tim Krul (Newcastle United), Jeroen Zoet (PSV).
Defenders: Daley Blind (Manchester United), Jeffrey Bruma (PSV), Terence Kongolo (Feyenoord), Bruno Martins Indi (FC Porto), Jaïro Riedewald (Ajax), Kenny Tete (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Lazio), Gregory van der Wiel (Paris Saint-Germain).
Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City), Vurnon Anita (Newcastle United), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Galatasaray), Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United).
Forwards: Memphis Depay (Manchester United), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Schalke 04), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Luciano Narsingh (PSV), Robin van Persie (Fenerbahçe), Quincy Promes (Spartak Moskou), Arjen Robben (Bayern München).
Players cut from original 31: Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord), Virgil van Dijk (Celtic), Joël Veltman (Ajax), Paul Verhaegh (FC Augsburg), Marco van Ginkel (Stoke City), Nigel de Jong (AC Milan), Bas Dost (VfL Wolfsburg) en Jeremain Lens (Sunderland),
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Shouldn’t Bas Dost be there in place of Huntellar ? I believe he is not doing bad in Bundesliga recently. One more thing, Blind should play Krul in place of Cillessen. The type of form Krul is enjoying recently, he should unaunimously become the No.1 in any team.
~ Tushar