Joshua Zirkzee and Ian Maatsen received unexpected call-ups to join the Dutch Euro 2024 squad while they were on holiday. The Netherlands faced a growing injury list with key players like Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners ruled out of the competition right before the start of the tournament. This led to Ronald Koeman making the decision to call up Maatsen and then Zirkzee to fill the vacant spots in the squad.
Ian Maatsen was enjoying his vacation in Mykonos with his girlfriend when he received the call from Koeman to replace Frenkie de Jong. Despite the sudden change of plans, Maatsen quickly packed his bags and made his way to join the Dutch squad. Maatsen, who was on loan at Borussia Dortmund from Chelsea in the previous season, played a crucial role in helping his team reach the Champions League final.
On the other hand, Joshua Zirkzee, who was initially left out of the Dutch squad, was surprised by his sudden call-up. Zirkzee, who is a target for Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, will now have the opportunity to showcase his skills in the Euros. His Instagram post documented the swift change in plans as he went from enjoying his time at Walt Disney World to having to fly to Germany to link up with the national team.
Zirkzee’s inclusion in the squad comes as the Netherlands deal with concerns over Brian Brobbey’s hamstring injury. While the MRI results for Brobbey came back positive, Zirkzee has been called in as cover. Despite missing the last two matches of the season with a hamstring injury, Zirkzee now has the chance to prove himself on the big stage at the Euros. Ronald Koeman, who initially left him out due to his injury, will now rely on Zirkzee to step up for the team.
With the Dutch team facing Poland in their Euro 2024 opener in Hamburg, both Maatsen and Zirkzee will have the opportunity to make an impact and prove their worth to Koeman. The unexpected call-ups have added an element of surprise and excitement to the Dutch squad, as they aim to overcome their injury setbacks and start their campaign on a positive note.
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