Football: Soccer-Maatsen and Van de Ven get Dutch call-ups

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – Chelsea defender Ian Maatsen and Tottenham Hotspur’s new signing Micky van de Ven have been called up in a preliminary Netherlands squad for next month’s European Championship qualifiers against Greece and Ireland.

Coach Ronald Koeman named the squad on Friday, turning to younger talent in the wake of their disappointing showing as hosts of the Nations League finals in June, where they lost to both Croatia and Italy.

Van de Ven, signed by Tottenham from VfL Wolfsburg, was part of a preliminary group of 39 players selected by former coach Louis van Gaal ahead of last year’s World Cup but did not make the final squad, while it is the first time the 21-year-old Maatsen has been called up.

Left back Maatsen was loaned to Burnley last year but has returned to Chelsea and made his Premier League debut last weekend as a substitute against Liverpool.

Coach Ronald Koeman has dropped Manchester United fullback Tyrell Malacia and former captain and midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, and must also do without Jurrien Timber, who suffered a serious knee injury on his Arsenal debut last weekend.

The Dutch are competing in Group B of the Euro 2024 qualifiers and lost their opening game 4-0 in France in March, after which they secured an unconvincing 3-0 win in Rotterdam against Gibraltar.

They host Greece in Eindhoven on Sept. 7 and then play the Irish away in Dublin on Sept. 10.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Mark Flekken (Brentford), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Girona), Sven Botman (Newcastle United), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries (both Inter Milan), Quilindschy Hartman, Lutsharel Geertruida (both Feyenoord), Ian Maatsen (Chelsea), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon, Teun Koopmeiners (both Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Mats Wieffer (Feyenoord)

Forwards: Steven Bergwijn, Brian Brobbey (both Ajax Amsterdam), Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (PSV Eindhoven), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Wout Weghorst (Hoffenheim).

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Toby Davis)