Netherlands announce squad for March friendlies vs Norway & Ecuador ft. Virgil van Dijk & Noa Lang
Koeman reveals his final Dutch squad ahead of the World Cup in the summer.
For Oranje’s March friendly, AZ star talent Kees Smit received his first call-up to the Netherlands side, while Sunderland attacker Brian Brobbey received his first in a year.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman has finally confirmed the squad for their March friendlies against Norway and Ecuador. One of the big absences has been midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is currently recovering from an injury.
Despite ailments, Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken and all-time leading scorer Memphis Depay have been called up.
Brian Brobbey, an attacking player for Sunderland, is making his first appearance for the Netherlands since March 2025, when the eight-time international played against Spain in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals.
Kees Smit, a gifted player from Arizona who won Player of the Tournament at the Under-19 European Championships last summer, was called up for the first time after contributing four goals and eight assists, four of which came in the UEFA Conference League.
The Netherlands will play friendly games against Norway on March 27 and Ecuador on March 31. It will be a great way to test their performance for the 2026 World Cup in the summer.
Netherlands squad for March international window
Goalkeepers: Bart Verbruggen (Brighton), Justin Bijlow (Genoa), Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen)
Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton), Stefan de Vrij (Inter), Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Lutsharel Geertruida (Sunderland), Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Jurriën Timber
Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Luciano Valente (Feyenoord), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Quinten Timber (Olympique Marseille), Kees Smit (AZ),
Forwards: Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Donyell Malen (Aston Villa), Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur), Wout Weghorst (Ajax), Noa Lang (Galatasaray), Brian Brobbey (Sunderland)
When will Netherlands face Norway and Ecuador?
They will face Norway on 27th March and Ecuador on 31st March.
Has De Jong been called up?
No, he is injured.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.