2023-10-13 00:30:11
Having left Le Bourget late in the morning, the French team arrived in Amsterdam on Thursday to meet the Netherlands on Friday at the Johan Cruyff Arena in front of 2,700 French supporters. If it experienced a few glitches, notably with the failures of Saliba, Koundé and Upamecano, their opponents experienced a real massacre. For this gathering, Ronald Koeman was unable to count on four of his executives.
When announcing the list for the matches against the France team (Friday) and against Greece (October 16), the coach had to do without Memphis Depay. Affected in the soleus muscle since the derby against Real on September 24, the Atlético de Madrid striker is suffering his fourth injury in nine months.
Timber, Malacia and Botman too…
In addition to the former Lyonnais, the Netherlands will have to do without Matthijs de Ligt. The Munich defender, who has only started one official match this season, received a knock against Bochum (7-0, September 23) and is also on the flank. In the middle, Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona), injured for more than three weeks in an ankle, is also out and in attack Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) is also missing.
The list is already very long and there are other important players who are already out. Ronald Koeman will also not be able to count on Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Steven Berghuis (Ajax Amsterdam), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta Bergamo), Mark Flekken (Brentford goalkeeper) , Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord goalkeeper) and Sven Botman, who missed Newcastle’s victory against PSG.
Questioned on the subject this Thursday at a press conference, Virgil Van Dijk, the Dutch captain, pointed to a schedule that was too busy and responsible for the physical problems. “In England we think the schedules are too busy. Players are well paid but this should never be to the detriment of our health. We have to play more and more matches. As players we should start saying something and contribute to a solution. »
After being affected by a virus during the first leg at the Stade de France which contaminated five players, the Netherlands will therefore have to deal with 12 absentees for their first meeting of the international break, which takes place on Friday the 13th.
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