Joshua Zirkzee has earned a late call-up to the Netherlands national team for Euro 2024 in a dramatic turn of events.
The 23-year-old Bologna striker was initially omitted from the provisional squad due to injury, but a combination of player withdrawals and his own recovery has opened the door for his inclusion.
Zirkzee’s omission had been a major talking point after a stellar season at Bologna. Having netted 11 goals and contributed 5 assists in Serie A, the young striker had been instrumental in the club’s historic Champions League qualification. This impressive form attracted interest from Premier League giants Arsenal and Manchester United, alongside Italian powerhouse AC Milan.
The initial 30-man squad announcement saw Zirkzee left out, with established names like Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Daley Blind, and Frenkie de Jong making the cut. However, injuries to key midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners forced manager Ronald Koeman to rethink his options. Coupled with a training scare involving Ajax striker Brian Brobbey, Koeman opted for a late addition, bringing Zirkzee back into the fold.
While uncapped at international level, Joshua Zirkzee will be expected to join the squad on Thursday and could potentially feature in their opening Euro 2024 fixture against Poland this Sunday.
