Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs and Feyenoord captain Sem Steijn received their first call-ups to the Netherlands squad on Friday as coach Ronald Koeman announced his 25-man team for the World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Lithuania.
The Netherlands, who won their first two Group G matches in June, will face Poland at home in Rotterdam next Thursday, followed by an away game against Lithuania on Sunday, September 7.
Jurrien Timber, who was sidelined due to injury in June, is back, along with PSV Eindhoven captain Jerdy Schouten, who replaces the injured Mats Wieffer.
First-choice goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen returns after missing the last two games against Finland and Malta.
Third-choice goalkeeper Nick Olij hasn’t played since joining PSV, giving Roefs his opportunity, while 23-year-old Steijn has been in contention for a year, scoring 43 goals in the Dutch league over two seasons for Twente before moving to Rotterdam.
Before the squad announcement, the possible absence of Memphis Depay was a significant concern. The Netherlands’ co-top scorer recently recovered from a hamstring injury and played for Brazilian club Corinthians for the first time this month on Wednesday.
He is now fit and included in the squad, with a chance to surpass Robin van Persie on the all-time scoring list.
Liverpool’s latest signing Jeremie Frimpong is out due to a hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined for weeks.
Netherlands squad for World Cup qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Bayer Leverkusen), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Jerdy Schouten (PSV Eindhoven), Sem Steijn, Quinten Timber (both Feyenoord)
Forwards: Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (Napoli), Donyell Malen (Aston Villa), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Wout Weghorst (Ajax Amsterdam).
Published on Aug 29, 2025