Dick Advocaat has named his Netherlands squad for the final two World Cup qualifiers against Belarus and Sweden.
- By Michael Bell
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Oranje need two wins against Belarus and Sweden in two weeks to have any chance of reaching the play-offs for the 2018 World Cup.
Advocaat named his squad on Friday morning with Besiktas forward Ryan Babel earning his first call-up since 2011 while Jurgen Locadia is chosen over Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after his four goals against Utrecht at the weekend.
Wesley Sneijder, Quincy Promes, Jeremain Lens, Jens Toornstra, Virgil van Dijk and Robin van Persie have all been left out, while there was no surprise call-up for Feyenoord midfielder Sofyan Amrabat. The KNVB is currently in a tug of war with Morocco over the midfielder’s international future.
The full squad is as follows:
Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Barcelona), Maarten Stekelenburg (Everton), Jeroen Zoet (PSV)
Defenders: Nathan Aké (AFC Bournemouth), Daley Blind (Manchester United), Wesley Hoedt (Southampton), Daryl Janmaat (Watford), Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax), Karim Rekik (Hertha BSC), Kenny Tete (Olympique Lyon), Joël Veltman (Ajax)
Midfielders: Donny van de Beek (Ajax), Marco van Ginkel (PSV), Davy Klaassen (Everton), Davy Pröpper (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kevin Strootman (AS Roma), Tonny Vilhena (Feyenoord), Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool)
Attackers: Ryan Babel (Besiktas), Memphis Depay (Olympique Lyon), Bas Dost (Sporting Lisbon), Vincent Janssen (Fenerbahçe), Jürgen Locadia (PSV), Arjen Robben (Bayern Münich)
I know there are a lot of injuries in defense, but De Ligt again? What a mess….he’s way too young and inexperienced to be playing at this level. And they’ve already got 2 RBs selected so I saw no need for Veltman at all.
The loss of Promes hurts, as other than Robben he looks like the only front-six player that can actually create chances.
Sadly, I expect a narrow win against Belarus (at best) which will leave the goal difference out of range for the last match.
I agree with Bobb Cobb 111 statement whereby De Ligt should not be named. He should be in the U21 squad. I think Veltman was selected as a back up CB. Ake & Rekik can play both LB and CB. However I really think that Van Aanholt & Willems should be included. Willems have the pace to move and attack forward. Van Aanholt is playing regularly at his club. Why there was no call up for Robben back up? If he injured the next one can play right winger is Wijnaldum. El-Ghazi or Narsingh should be call up but again both are not regulars at their club.Cillesen & Stekelenburg is not regular at their respective club and this is bad. We have no on form Gk. We may be lucky to win both games but still relying on other games mathematically and that is sucks….
Nobody on form a GK? Zoet has allowed 6 goals in 7 Eredivisie matches (with 3 clean sheets) for PSV, whose back line is seen as relatively weak for a title contender. Zoet was easily the reason they held on to beat Feyenoord two weeks ago. He should be the starting keeper for Oranje, but I think we all know Barcelona’s backup will get the nod, which is a shame.
As for the rest of the squad, every international window shows us more and more how players are leaving The Netherlands way too soon. The big money being thrown around by bigger clubs in Europe is finally decimating our national team. Leaving a starting role, even in the Eredivsie, to sit on a bench when you’re 21-22 years old stops your development. Those who are playing regularly at their clubs, are playing at mid-level clubs and/or in mid-level leagues.
Arjen Robben is still our only player starring for a major club on the European stage. To a lesser extent, Wijnaldum is good for Liverpool, but lately has been not so good for oranje. Same can be said for Strootman at Roma and Blind for Man United. Lyon has regressed in recent years so it’s hard to be too excited or Tete and Memphis doing well there. I just don’t see the next Dutch star for Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Juventus, etc. I don’t know what the answer is when it comes to stopping the money from being thrown around like it is.