Nations League: Xavi Reshapes the Netherlands — Depay and Weghorst Out, Zechiël and Van Bommel In

Netherlands national team coach Xavi Hernandez has announced the 26-player list for four Nations League matches.

Ruben van Bommel and Gjivai Zechiël are the newcomers to the squad, while other rising talents who were still in the training group for last summer’s World Cup, such as Luciano Valente and Kees Smit, are missing. Joey Veerman returns. The midfielder had been out of the game under Ronald Koeman. Kenneth Taylor is also back in the squad.

Several veterans, such as Memphis Depay, Marten de Roon and Wout Weghorst, are missing. One player who was at the World Cup, Guus Til, is missing, as are the injured Frenkie de Jong and Mats Wieffer. Captain Virgil van Dijk will continue for now, despite some speculation. From the Saudi league, Xavi has picked Cryscencio Summerville and Tijjani Reijnders, but not Steven Bergwijn.

The 26-player list:

Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion), Mark Flekken (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland).

Defenders: Nathan Aké (Fenerbahçe SK), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Real Madrid), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool), Lutsharel Geertruida (PSV), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham Hotspur), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal).

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Al-Qadsiah), Kenneth Taylor (SS Lazio), Quinten Timber (Crystal Palace), Joey Veerman (Borussia Dortmund), Gjivai Zechiël (Feyenoord).

Forwards: Ruben van Bommel (PSV), Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (AFC Bournemouth), Noa Lang (SSC Napoli), Donyell Malen (AS Roma), Crysencio Summerville (Al-Hilal).