The Netherlands have suffered a setback on the eve of the FIFA World Cup after defender Jurriën Timber was ruled out of the tournament due to a groin injury. The Dutch football authorities confirmed the decision in an official statement issued on Monday.
Timber, who plays his club football for Arsenal, was last seen in action during the UEFA Champions League final, where he featured as a substitute against Paris Saint-Germain. Following that appearance, he had been undergoing rehabilitation in an effort to recover fully from the injury.
However, according to the Netherlands team management, the 24-year-old is still suffering from persistent groin problems and has not regained full fitness in time for the tournament. As a result, the decision was taken not to include him in the squad for the World Cup, given the risk associated with his condition.
In response to Timber’s withdrawal, Lutsharel Geertruida of Sunderland has been called up as his replacement. National team head coach Ronald Koeman has selected Geertruida as part of the final squad adjustment ahead of the competition.
The Netherlands are set to begin their World Cup campaign on 14 June with a match against Japan. They will then face Sweden and Tunisia in the group stage fixtures.
Squad Update Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Player ruled out | Jurriën Timber |
| National team | Netherlands |
| Club | Arsenal |
| Injury | Groin injury |
| Last appearance | UEFA Champions League final vs PSG (as substitute) |
| Replacement | Lutsharel Geertruida (Sunderland) |
| Head coach | Ronald Koeman |
| Tournament start | 14 June vs Japan |
| Group opponents | Sweden, Tunisia |
The Netherlands confirmed that Timber’s condition made participation in the tournament unfeasible, leading to his exclusion from the final squad selection.
