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Netherlands Squad Selections: Zirkzee and De Ligt Omitted for Nations League Matches

In a surprising turn of events, Manchester United players Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt have not been included in the Netherlands’ provisional squad for the Nations League quarter-finals scheduled for next month. The Dutch team is set to face Spain at home on March 20, followed by an away match in Valencia three days later.

Joshua Zirkzee, now 23 years old, made his debut for the senior national team as a substitute during the Euro 2024 match against Turkey. Since that appearance, he has been a consistent presence in the squad, accumulating six caps to date.

Matthijs de Ligt, 25, has been an integral part of the national setup since earning his first cap in 2017. He has been included in every squad when fit but finds himself excluded this time around. De Ligt was once the captain of the Netherlands but lost his starting position to Inter Milan’s Stefan de Vrij.

Manager Ronald Koeman has announced a provisional squad of 25 players, which he intends to reduce in the coming week. Both Zirkzee and De Ligt joined Manchester United last summer, but their adaptation to the Premier League has been challenging. Notably, De Ligt managed to find the net in a recent match, contributing to a 3-2 victory over Ipswich Town.

In the Premier League season, De Ligt has played 25 games, starting 21 of them. However, his form has raised concerns, particularly after struggling during the September international break. In a 2-2 draw against Germany, he was withdrawn at half-time after contributing to both goals conceded by the Netherlands. Reflecting on De Ligt’s performance, Koeman noted, “It just looks like he is now in a period where all his mistakes are being punished. I gave him a new chance today, but eventually I protected him by taking him off.”

Meanwhile, Zirkzee has primarily featured as a substitute, initiating only 11 of his 27 appearances this season. In contrast, another former Manchester United player, Memphis Depay, has made the provisional squad despite his recent transfer to Brazilian club Corinthians. Since moving, Depay has scored eight goals in 24 appearances but has not represented the Netherlands since their defeat against England in the Euro 2024 semi-finals.

Source
www.bbc.com