5 Players Out as Viral Infection Hits Netherlands Squad

Soccer Football - Ronald Koeman is officially presented as national soccer coach of the Dutch national team - KNVB Campus, Zeist, Netherlands - January 23, 2023 New Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman during the presentation REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
Soccer Football - Ronald Koeman is officially presented as national soccer coach of the Dutch national team - KNVB Campus, Zeist, Netherlands - January 23, 2023 New Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman during the presentation REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
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5 Players Out as Viral Infection Hits Netherlands Squad

Soccer Football - Ronald Koeman is officially presented as national soccer coach of the Dutch national team - KNVB Campus, Zeist, Netherlands - January 23, 2023 New Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman during the presentation REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw
Soccer Football - Ronald Koeman is officially presented as national soccer coach of the Dutch national team - KNVB Campus, Zeist, Netherlands - January 23, 2023 New Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman during the presentation REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw

Five players in the Netherlands squad to face World Cup finalist France in their opening European Championship qualifier have been sent home after contracting a viral infection.

Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt along with Sven Botman, Joey Veerman and Bart Verbruggen all left the training camp, the Dutch federation said on Thursday. It did not elaborate on the virus, The Associated Press reported.

The departures were another blow to coach Ronald Koeman ahead of the first match of his second stint in charge of the national team. Already this week, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn dropped out due to injuries.

Koeman sought to play down the absences, saying he still had confidence in his team.

“I have two players in every attacking position," he said. "On paper, I have six forwards and that is enough for me.”

Koeman called up Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, Vitesse Arnhem's Kjell Scherpen and Inter Milan defender Stefan de Vrij as replacements for the five ill players.

The Netherlands plays France at the Stade de France on Friday in a Group B qualifier before returning home to take on Gibraltar on Monday in Rotterdam.

Koeman said France has great players all over the pitch, but singled out Kylian Mbappe, who scored a hat trick in the World Cup final, a player “who can change a game on his own.”



Soccer-Atletico Sign Midfielder Baena from Villarreal

Alex Baena (Reuters)
Alex Baena (Reuters)
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Soccer-Atletico Sign Midfielder Baena from Villarreal

Alex Baena (Reuters)
Alex Baena (Reuters)

Atletico Madrid have signed Spanish midfielder Alex Baena from Villarreal, the LaLiga club said on Wednesday, with the 23-year-old signing a five-year contract in a deal reportedly worth 50 million euros ($58.92 million) according to Spanish media.

Baena came up through the ranks at Villarreal from the youth academy, making his senior debut in 2020 and, after a season on loan at Girona where he helped them to earn promotion, he has been a regular in the Villarreal side for the last three seasons., Reuters said.

"Really happy, it's a big step in my career. I'm joining one of the biggest clubs in Spain and in Europe," Baena said.

The playmaker has represented Spain at all underage levels and made his first appearance for the senior national side in 2023, scoring on his debut. Baena was a member of the Euro 2024 winning squad, making two substitute appearances.

Baena, who plays primarily as a left winger, was also a part of Spain's gold-medal winning side at the Paris Olympics last year, where he scored in the final against France. He was named on the LaLiga Team of the Season for the most recent campaign.