Five players in the Netherlands squad to face World Cup finalist France in their opening European Championship qualifier have been sent home after contracting a viral infection. (More Football News)
Liverpoo൩l forward Cody Gakpo, Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt along with Sven Botman, Joey Veerman and Bart Verbruggen all left the training camp, the Dutch federation said on Thursday. It did not elaborate on the viꦬrus.
The departures were another blow to coach Ronald Koeman ahead of the first match of hiꦕs second stint in charge of the national team. Already this week, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn dropped out due to injuries.
Koeman sought to play down the absences🍸, saying he still had confidence in his team.
"I hav🤡e two players in every attacking posi🧸tion," he said.
"On paper, I have six forwards꧂ and th🎉at is enough for me."
Koeman called up Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, Vitesse Arnhem's Kjel🦂l Scherpen and Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij as replacements for the five ill players.
The Netherlands plays France at the Stade de France on Friday ꦏin a Group B qualifier before returning home to take on Gibraltar on Monday in Rotterdam.
Koeman said France has great players all over the pitch, but singled ouꦕt Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat trick in the World Cup final, a player "who can change a game on 💦his own."
