Bruno Martins Indi, Vincent Janssen and Jerdy Schouten are in the Orange squad, but Georginio Wijnaldum is missing from the selection. National coach Louis van Gaal explained this afternoon why he made these striking choices. “You don’t have an automatic ride card with the Dutch national team,” said Van Gaal.
According to the national coach, the fact that AZ defender Martins Indi is making his appearance again at the Orange squad after an absence of five years is because his teammate Owen Wijndal has fallen off injured. “My preference is for a left-footed central defender and we only have one of them. I think Martins Indi has had a very good season and therefore give him the chance now. He has experience at a World Cup and is in the construction has progressed.”
“I called Schouten when Clasie lost weight”
Because Jordy Clasie (AZ) is also not fit enough, Van Gaal ended up with debutant Jerdy Schouten. The former Telstar player was on the shadow list of the Dutch national team. “I called Schouten when Clasie dropped out. He is playing a very good season at Bologna. We are keeping an eye on all those players.”
Vincent Janssen
Vincent Janssen’s election was perhaps the most surprising. Like Martins Indi, the former AZ striker last played for Orange in 2017. Assistant Danny Blind put Van Gaal on the trail of Janssen, who has been playing football in Mexico for the past few seasons. “A place became available because Malen was injured. I went to see Janssen myself and coincidentally he also scored in that match. I don’t know if he will be, because it is always a matter of waiting for players to deliver to the Dutch national team. .”
Van Gaal doesn’t care that Janssen has made little impression in Mexico. “You don’t think I listen to the media, do you? Janssen has scored two goals in the last three games. The point is that I want to see such a type of striker in the Dutch national team. He sometimes has hard feet and I would like that he has soft feet, but I look at what he has done well.”
“I think Vincent Janssen can get married and that he can spend the bridal night well with his sweet wife”
The fact that Janssen misses the first game in the Nations League against Belgium because he is getting married takes Van Gaal into the bargain. “I think he can get married and that he can spend the bridal night well with his sweet wife. He’s coming June 7th.”
At Orange, Janssen will meet his successor at AZ in striker Wout Weghorst. He recently relegated with Burnley from the Premier League. It cannot be ruled out whether his selection for the World Cup in Qatar is at risk. “He is still the Wout Weghorst who has played in the Premier League. I have to see what level he achieves. That is a level lower, harder to read than in the Premier League.”
“It is not a rehabilitation center for the Dutch national team”
Van Gaal was clear about Wijnaldum’s absence. “Out of the last six games he has played five but I have substituted him three times. He has not kept his form and I told him through Facetime so I could look him in the eye. I don’t switch like someone “plays well, but Wijnaldum did not deliver. It is not a rehabilitation center or a psychotherapeutic center for the Dutch national team. If he has his form back, I will select him immediately.”
Van Gaal further said at the press conference that captain Virgil van Dijk will only play against Belgium next Friday in Brussels and can go on holiday after the evaluation of the away game against Wales.
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