AMSTERDAM – Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman said Bart Verbruggen was his first-choice goalkeeper ahead of the Euro 2024 football qualifiers against Ireland and Gibraltar, which could seal their spot for the Finals in Germany.
While the Oranje have great depth in central defence with players such as Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk, Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt, Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij, Manchester City’s Nathan Ake and Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven, their options between the sticks are far more limited.
The three custodians picked for the November internationals – Verbruggen, Brentford’s Mark Flekken and Feyenoord’s Justin Bijlow – have a total of just 16 caps and Koeman has used five goalkeepers over the last 12 months.
But on Nov 14, he plumped for the most inexperienced of the trio, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Verbruggen, as his first choice between the sticks for the Group B clash against Ireland on Nov 18 and Gibraltar three days later.
The 21-year-old won his first caps in the 2-1 home loss to France and 1-0 victory in Greece in October.
Explaining his choice, Koeman said: “Bart Verbruggen will keep goal this week. I think that’s logical on the basis of the last two matches that we played.
“He has developed nicely at his young age. That is also the case with Bijlow but, unfortunately, he was injured, which created a different situation.
“It is not the case that Bart is 100 per cent certain to be the first choice during the European Championship. You cannot and should not say that. But, in principle, yes for these two matches.”
The Dutch picked uncapped Andries Noppert as their first choice at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar under previous coach Louis van Gaal.
Since Koeman took over in 2023, he has used Jasper Cillessen, who is now out of favour, Bijlow, Flekken and Verbruggen.
“It is not ideal but all of them did well,” Koeman added.
When he named his squad for the two matches on Nov 10, Koeman surprised with the choice of 17-year-old defender Jorrel Hato.
“I was looking for left-footed players. There were other candidates but they were right-footed. It has worked out well because Nathan Ake has since pulled out with injury,” the coach explained.
Ake has been joined on the sidelines by Ajax Amsterdam pair Steven Bergwijn and Brian Brobbey. Uncapped Toulouse striker Thijs Dallinga has been called up as a replacement.
The Dutch are second in the standings behind France, who have already qualified. They are tied on 12 points with Greece, who have played one game more.
If the Netherlands fail against the Irish, they can still make sure of second place, and a berth at the Finals, in their last Group B game against tiny Gibraltar, who have lost all their group games, in Faro, Portugal, next Tuesday.
Spain, France, England, Belgium and Portugal have already qualified along with hosts Germany, Turkey, Scotland and Austria for the 24-nation Finals, which will run from June 14 to July 14, 2024.
Italy, who beat England on penalties at Wembley in the final of the last European Championship in 2021 to claim the title for the second time, still have work to do to avoid missing another major tournament.
Having failed to qualify for the last two World Cups, there is a danger the Azzurri will not be in Germany to defend their title after a qualifying campaign during which coach Roberto Mancini quit to take charge of the Saudi Arabia national team in August.
Yet the equation is simple for the team now coached by Luciano Spalletti – whatever happens when they face North Macedonia in Rome on Nov 17, win against Ukraine in Germany on Nov 20 and they will qualify.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Manchester United pair Rasmus Hojlund and Christian Eriksen have withdrawn from the squad for their next two Euro 2024 qualifiers with muscle and knee injuries that will keep them out until late November and for a month respectively.
Second-placed Denmark, who face Slovenia on Nov 17 and Northern Ireland on Nov 20, are level on 19 points with Group H leaders Slovenia. The Danes will qualify if they beat Slovenia. REUTERS, AFP
