The drums of the 2024 UEFA European Championship are about to sound, and Dutch national team coach Ronald Koeman unveiled a preliminary 30-man squad on Thursday. However, the list omitted the in-form young striker Joshua Zirkzee, sparking controversy among fans.
Most of the players named by Koeman were expected, familiar faces from his tenure, but Zirkzee’s absence raised eyebrows. The Dutch football platform Voetbal expressed confusion, suggesting that Koeman might have underestimated Zirkzee’s abilities while showing favoritism towards players like Steven Berghuis, Memphis Depay, Danilo Brobbey, Cody Gakpo, and Wout Weghorst.
Looking back at this season’s Serie A, the 22-year-old Zirkzee, with 11 goals and four assists, emerged as a key figure for Bologna, helping the team secure a Champions League spot after 59 years. As one of the brightest stars in the Italian league, Zirkzee’s exclusion has puzzled many, especially considering the interest he has generated in the transfer market.
Meanwhile, the Dutch forwards have not been in top form, with star players like Depay and Gakpo showing signs of fatigue toward the end of the season. Adding to the debate, Koeman also included the underwhelming Georginio Wijnaldum, who had an average season in Saudi Arabia, drawing criticism from football experts in the Netherlands.
Many fans took to social media to criticize Koeman, questioning the decision to choose Berghuis and Weghorst over Zirkzee.
Heading into the 2024 Euros, the Netherlands is not widely favored. In Group D, they will face stiff competition from Poland, Austria, and powerhouse France. Their opening match against Poland on June 16 sets the stage for a closely watched campaign.