Manchester United & Arsenal transfer target, Joshua Zirkzee, has been called up to the Netherlands Euro 2024 squad amid a deepening injury crisis.
- Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners out injured
- Zirkzee called up by Ronald Koeman
- The striker had a stellar season with Bologna
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Dutch squad has faced a challenging week, with critical injuries disrupting their plans for the tournament. Frenkie de Jong, the Barcelona midfielder, was forced to withdraw after failing to recover from an ankle injury. His absence was confirmed on Monday night. Shortly after, the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced that Atalanta midfielder Teun Koopmeiners had also been ruled out. Koopmeiners sustained an injury during the warm-up ahead of the Netherlands’ final Euros warm-up game against Iceland on Monday, having been initially named in the starting line-up.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
In response to these setbacks, head coach Ronald Koeman acted swiftly to ensure the team remained competitive. Ian Maatsen was called up on Tuesday to replace De Jong officially. Subsequently, Zirkzee’s selection was confirmed, bringing the Netherlands squad back up to the maximum of 26 players.
DID YOU KNOW?
Zirkzee has had a notable trajectory. He spent his youth career at ADO Den Haag, Feyenoord, and Bayern Munich. At Bayern, he progressed into the first team before joining Bologna in 2022. Over the past season, Zirkzee has been impressive, scoring 12 goals in 37 appearances and helping the club qualify for the Champions League. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with The Athletic reporting that both AC Milan and Manchester United are interested in acquiring his services. However, it is said that the Serie A outfit have taken a lead over the Red Devils as they are ready to pay his €40 million (£34m/$44m) release clause.
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WHAT NEXT FOR ZIRKZEE?
Despite his success at the club level, Zirkzee has yet to be capped at senior level by the Netherlands. His call-up to the Euro 2024 squad presents a significant opportunity for him to make his mark on the international stage. The Netherlands have been drawn alongside Poland, Austria, and France in Group D of the tournament. The team will face Poland in their opening match on Sunday, a fixture that will test their adaptability and resilience in the face of recent injuries. With Zirkzee’s inclusion, the squad will hope to maintain their competitive edge and perform strongly in the group stages and beyond.
