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Koeman Calls up Maatsen to Replace Injured De Jong in Netherlands Euro 2024 Squad 

Ian Maatsen of Dortmund in action during the UEFA Champions League final match of Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid, in London, Britain, 01 June 2024. (EPA)
Ian Maatsen of Dortmund in action during the UEFA Champions League final match of Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid, in London, Britain, 01 June 2024. (EPA)
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Koeman Calls up Maatsen to Replace Injured De Jong in Netherlands Euro 2024 Squad 

Ian Maatsen of Dortmund in action during the UEFA Champions League final match of Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid, in London, Britain, 01 June 2024. (EPA)
Ian Maatsen of Dortmund in action during the UEFA Champions League final match of Borussia Dortmund against Real Madrid, in London, Britain, 01 June 2024. (EPA)

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman called up versatile Borussia Dortmund defender Ian Maatsen on Tuesday to replace midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who was cut from the European Championship squad because of an ankle injury.

Koeman announced late Monday that De Jong would not be fit in time to play at the tournament in Germany that begins Friday.

The Dutch soccer association also said Tuesday that midfielder Teun Koopmeiners will miss Euro 2024 after suffering an injury while warming up Monday for the Netherlands' final friendly against Iceland.

Maatsen, who was part of the provisional Netherlands squad, was set to return from vacation to join the team at its base in the German city of Wolfsburg.

Maatsen impressed this year after moving on loan from Chelsea to Dortmund. He was named in UEFA's Champions League team of the season and will give Koeman an extra option on the left flank.

The Netherlands, the 1988 European champion, plays Poland in its first Group D match on Sunday in Hamburg before taking on World Cup runner-up France and completing the group stage against Austria.

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Krejcikova Beats Gauff in Saudi Arabia to Earn Last Semifinal Spot at WTA Finals

Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic returns the ball to Coco Gauff of USA during the WTA Finals group stage match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 07 November 2024. EPA/Marcin Cholewinski
Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic returns the ball to Coco Gauff of USA during the WTA Finals group stage match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 07 November 2024. EPA/Marcin Cholewinski
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Krejcikova Beats Gauff in Saudi Arabia to Earn Last Semifinal Spot at WTA Finals

Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic returns the ball to Coco Gauff of USA during the WTA Finals group stage match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 07 November 2024. EPA/Marcin Cholewinski
Barbora Krejcikova of Czech Republic returns the ball to Coco Gauff of USA during the WTA Finals group stage match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 07 November 2024. EPA/Marcin Cholewinski

Barbora Krejcikova grabbed the last semifinal spot at the WTA Finals with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Coco Gauff on Thursday, a result that eliminated second-ranked Iga Swiatek from the season-ending tournament.

Krejcikova completes a last-four lineup that already included top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, Zheng Qinwen and Gauff, The Associated Press reported.

“Well, I was definitely super excited to be here, to come here, to qualify to play against the best ones,” Krejcikova said. “I don’t really know where everything started to come together. Before the tournament, I had a couple of days where we hit lightly and already during those hits, I felt quite good.

And I think definitely for me, it’s a big thing that it’s the last tournament of the season.”

Krejcikova, the Wimbledon champion, won the Orange Group and will face Zheng in Friday's semifinals, while Gauff will take on Purple Group winner Sabalenka.

Swiatek earlier routed alternate Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour, but she needed Krejcikova to lose to third-ranked Gauff in order to advance from the Orange Group. Krejcikova, Gauff and Swiatek all finished at 2-1, and Swiatek was eliminated because she has a worse percentage of sets won.

Kasatkina replaced American Jessica Pegula, who withdrew from the tournament on Wednesday because of a left knee injury.

“I’m professional enough to always give 100% no matter what the stakes are," Swiatek said.