Injured duo De Ligt, Depay included in Dutch squad

Pulse News Agency International by AFP

November 8, 2019 2:48 PM

Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman named injured pair Matthijs de Ligt and Memphis Depay in the squad for his side's upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers.

De Ligt has been struggling with an ankle injury

Juventus centre-back De Ligt missed Wednesday's Champions League win at Lokomotiv Moscow with an ankle injury, while Depay will sit out Lyon's Ligue 1 game against rivals Marseille this weekend with a thigh problem.

But Donyell Malen, who has scored 16 goals for PSV Eindhoven this season, does miss out through injury.

Koeman has handed maiden call-ups to AZ Alkmaar youngsters Myron Boadu and Calvin Stengs.

The Dutch, who lead qualifying Group C ahead of Germany on head-to-head record, can secure a Euro 2020 finals spot by avoiding defeat against Northern Ireland in Belfast on November 16, before facing Estonia three days later.

The Netherlands are bidding to qualify for a major tournament for the first time since finishing third at the 2014 World Cup.

Netherlands squad

Goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen (Valencia/ESP), Kenneth Vermeer (Feyenoord), Jeroen Zoet (PSV Eindhoven)

Defenders: Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace/ENG), Nathan Ake (Bournemouth/ENG), Daley Blind (Ajax), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool/ENG), Denzel Dumfries (PSV), Matthijs de Ligt (Juventus/ITA), Joel Veltman (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan/ITA)

Midfielders: Donny van de Beek (Ajax), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona/ESP), Davy Propper (Brighton/ENG), Marten de Roon (Atalanta/ITA), Kevin Strootman (Marseille/FRA), Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool/ENG)

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Galatasaray/TUR), Steven Berghuis (Feyenoord Rotterdam), Myron Boadu (AZ Alkmaar), Luuk de Jong (Sevilla/ESP), Memphis Depay (Lyon/FRA), Quincy Promes (Ajax), Calvin Stengs (AZ), Wout Weghorst (Wolfsburg)

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Pulse News Agency International by AFP