News Focus
- Mark Flekken is the sole current Bundesliga player in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands World Cup squad.
- The Bayer Leverkusen keeper missed the 2022 tournament but now joins Premier League youngsters Bart Verbruggen and Robin Roefs.
- Former Bundesliga defender Jeremie Frimpong misses out after his recent transfer to Liverpool.
- The Dutch team will face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in a difficult Group F.
- Seven other squad members have previous experience playing in the German top flight.
Ronald Koeman has selected Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken for the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign. The 32-year-old shot-stopper is the only player currently playing in the German Bundesliga to make the final team.
Flekken was not part of the squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Former coach Louis van Gaal left him out of that tournament. Now, Flekken will travel with two young goalkeepers from English clubs. Bart Verbruggen plays for Brighton & Hove Albion, while Robin Roefs represents Sunderland.
The keeper’s club season was disrupted by injury. He missed the majority of the second half of the campaign before returning for the final weeks. Flekken started his career with SC Freiburg in Germany. He then moved to Brentford in England, before returning to the Bundesliga with Leverkusen last summer.
Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong will not go to the tournament. The defender recently signed for Liverpool but has struggled with fitness problems this season. Despite his absence, seven other players in the Dutch squad have played in the Bundesliga at some point in their careers.
The Netherlands are in Group F. They will play their group matches against Japan, Sweden and Tunisia.
Netherlands World Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Noah Lang (Galatasaray), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Guus Til (PSV), Quinten Timber (Marseille), Mats Wieffer (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Donyell Malen (AS Roma), Crysencio Summerville (West Ham United), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)