In his first squad announcement since taking over from Louis van Gaal, new Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has named former captain Georginio Wijnaldum and goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, who was dropped from last year's World Cup squad in a surprise move. Koeman has selected a preliminary squad of 37 players for the upcoming European Championship qualifiers against France and Gibraltar.
Sorare players will have a particularly close eye on the Gibraltar game as an opportunity for the U23 players to get some game time in a fixture that could prove one of the more favourable in the European Qualifiers on matchday 2.
Wijnaldum, who has 86 caps, missed the World Cup in Qatar due to a broken leg in August. However, the 32-year-old midfielder returns to the squad, despite not being a regular starter for Paris St Germain, where he is currently on loan at AS Roma.
Also included in the squad are three Feyenoord players, Lutsharel Geertruida, Quilindschy Hartman and Mats Wieffer, who receive their first call up as their club sits atop the Dutch league. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from Anderlecht is also included for the first time.
Veteran Daley Blind, 33, has also been included in the squad and has the opportunity to win his 100th cap when the Dutch take on France in Paris on March 24. The team will then play against Gibraltar in Rotterdam three days later.
In a surprise move, 32-year-old striker Luuk de Jong has retired from international football after winning 39 caps since his debut in 2011. Koeman expressed his disappointment at the decision, stating that they would miss him both on and off the field.
The Netherlands squad is as follows - we've highlighted U23 players in blue for Sorare players looking at the squad for their lineups during the matches:
Goalkeepers
Jasper Cillessen, Mark Flekken, Andries Noppert, Kjell Scherpen and Bart Verbruggen;
Defenders
Nathan Ake, Daley Blind, Sven Botman, Matthijs de Ligt, Stefan de Vrij, Denzel Dumfries, Jeremie Frimpong, Lutsharel Geertruida, Quilindschy Hartman, Tyrell Malacia, Kenny Tete, Jurrien Timber and Virgil van Dijk;
Midfielders
Steven Berghuis, Jordy Clasie, Frenkie de Jong, Marten de Roon, Ryan Gravenberch, Davy Klaassen, Teun Koopmeiners, Kenneth Taylor, Joey Veerman, Mats Wieffer and Georginio Wijnaldum
Forwards
Steven Bergwijn, Brian Brobbey, Memphis Depay, Cody Gakpo, Vincent Janssen, Noa Lang, Xavi Simons and Wout Weghorst.
