Netherlands provisional squad for March international break; Matthijs de Ligt left out

The Oranje will face Spain in the Nations League quarter-final games.

During the March international break of 2025, several European teams will battle in the quarter-final stages of the UEFA Nations League tournament. One such team is the Netherlands national football team. They will take on the Euro 2024 winners and one of the favourites for the winner’s medal—Spain.

The first leg will be played on home soil, and three days later, the return leg will take place in Spain. The Netherlands will use the De Kuip stadium to host the game. It is the same stadium that football club Feyenoord uses during the season. When Spain play as the hosts, the game will be held in Valencia’s Mestalla stadium.

Head coach Ronald Koeman has added Memphis Depay back to the squad. Depay is currently playing for the Brazilian side Corinthians. Meanwhile, we also see big names left out. The Manchester United duo of Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee were not added to the 25-man provisional squad chosen by Koeman.

In the attack we will see the prowess of Liverpool‘s Cody Gakpo, RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons and others. Teun Koopmeiners, Frenkie de Jong and Ryan Gravenberch are the big names in the midfield selections. Expect Virgil van Dijk to be the main man at the back. Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong, Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries, Arsenal’s Jurriën Timber are other defensive players in the shortlist. Bart Verbruggen is one of three goalkeepers called up for the national team of Netherlands.

Netherlands squad for March international matches

Goalkeepers: Mark Flekken (Brentford FC), Nick Olij (Sparta R.), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (RB Leipzig), Jorrel Hato (AFC Ajax), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal FC)

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Justin Kluivert (AFC Bournemouth), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Kenneth Taylor (AFC Ajax), Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Frenkie de Jong (FC Barcelona)

Forwards: Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (PSV), Donyell Malen (Aston Villa), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig)

Here’s our 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐝 for the #NationsLeague quarter-finals! 📋20/03 • #NEDESP, Rotterdam 🇳🇱23/03 • #ESPNED, Valencia 🇪🇸#NothingLikeOranje pic.twitter.com/98oSXZoiHL

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) February 28, 2025

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