Head coach Ronald Koeman announced a 26-men Netherlands squad for the 2022/23 Nations League Finals.
The Netherlands, hosting the semi-finals and the finals of this edition, will face Croatia in the last-four stage on Thursday, 15 June 2023 and then the final at De Kuip on Monday, 19 June 2023 if they progress. The Dutch were the beaten finalists in the inaugural Nations League campaign in 2019 losing to winners Portugal 1-0.
These two have only played each other twice previously with the Croats excelling in the first-ever meeting, a third-place fight in the 1998 FIFA World Cup hosted by France. However, the Dutch got their revenge in the other one in an international friendly played in 2008 with a 3-0 margin.
Performance in the Group Stage
Teams | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
Netherlands | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 16 |
Belgium | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8 | 3 | 10 |
Poland | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 12 | -6 | 7 |
Wales | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 11 | -5 | 1 |
The 2022/23 Nations League group stages took place in June and September of last year because of the 2022 FIFA World Cup played in November. Despite being frantic in most of the games right after a demanding club season, the Netherlands comfortably topped their group. The Oranje Shirts did not lose a single game, winning five and drawing once with six points clear off runners-up Belgium. Louis van Gaal was at the helm at that time in his third stint but the former Manchester United manager stepped down from his role after the World Cup in Qatar.
Ronald Koeman took charge this year for his second tenure at the national team. The start of it was disappointing though as they went down 4-0 away at France in the opening Euro 2024 Qualifiers game. The Dutch manage to recover well from the thrashing after registering a 3-0 victory against Gibraltar in De Kuip. Defender Nathan Ake scored twice after Memphis Depay opened the scoring past the half-hour mark.
Netherlands Nations League Squad
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Mark Flekken (SC Freiburg), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Bayern Munich), Sven Botman (Newcastle United), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jurrien Timber (Ajax Amsterdam), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Tijjani Reijnders (AZ Alkmaar), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Mats Wieffer (Feyenoord), Georginio Wijnaldum (AS Roma)
Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax Amsterdam), Memphis Depay (Atlético Madrid), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Wout Weghorst (Manchester United)
Head Coach: Ronald Koeman
Heerenveen’s Andries Noppert is recalled between the sticks after missing the March Euro 2024 qualifiers through injury. He made his Netherlands debut in the 2022 World Cup. Jasper Cillessen has been left out. The Ajax’s quadrant of Steven Berghuis, Brian Brobbey, Davy Klaassen and Kenneth Taylor are all left out for a horrid season with their club which saw them losing their hold on the Eredivisie title and also a place in next season’s Champions League. However, fellow teammates Jurrien Timber and Steven Bergwijn are included. Teun Koopmeiners returns from injury to join the national set up while Noa Lang and Joey Veerman earned their recalls as well. AZ midfielder Tijjani Reijnders has earned his debut call-up to the Netherlands squad.
