World Cup

Sven Botman, Ryan Gravenberch left out of Netherlands World Cup squad

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 11 November 2022

Botman, Gravenberch left out of Netherlands World Cup squad

Louis van Gaal selects his Netherlands squad for the World Cup, opting to leave out Newcastle United defender Sven Botman and Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch

Newcastle United defender Sven Botman and Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch are among the high-profile names to miss out on a place in the Netherlands World Cup squad.

Despite having yet to earn a senior cap for his country, Botman's form for Newcastle United had put him in contention, but the 22-year-old centre-back has missed out on the 26-player group.

Meanwhile, Gravenberch has paid the price for failing to make a single start in the Bundesliga since joining Bayern Munich, instead being limited to 412 minutes of football in Germany's top flight and the Champions League.

Experienced goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen is another notable absentee, Louis van Gaal instead going for three stoppers who have just eight caps between them.

There are three representatives from the Premier League with Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk, Manchester City's Nathan Ake and Manchester United's Tyrell Malacia all being selected.

Netherlands' Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring their first goal on September 25, 2022 © Reuters

As expected, Ajax are strongly represented with seven players from the Dutch giants featuring in the squad, with Kenneth Taylor getting the nod despite earning just two caps.

PSV Eindhoven youngster Xavi Simons, without a senior cap, has also forced his way in on the back of contributing nine goals and three assists since his transfer in the summer.

Barcelona pair Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay also feature, the latter due to return from a hamstring injury in due course after being sidelined since the end of September.

Vincent Janssen has forced his way into the squad on the back of his form for Antwerp, the former Tottenham Hotspur man netting eight times in 16 outings in Belgium's top flight during 2022-23.

Van Gaal's side have been placed in a group alongside Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar, and Oranje beginning their campaign against the former on November 2021.

Netherlands' 2022 World Cup squad in full

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax)

Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta BC), Marten de Roon (Atalanta BC), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven)

Attackers: Cody Gakpo (PSV Eindhoven), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Vincent Janssen (Antwerp), Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas)