Firmly indicates about PSV players: 'Never called up under Koeman'

In the meantime, Xavi Hernandez has become head coach of the Netherlands national team. Under Xavi, Ruben van Bommel made his debut and Joey Veerman returned.

Veerman had, in fact, fallen out of sight with Ronald Koeman after Euro 2024 in Germany, and ahead of the World Cup last summer the midfielder was also openly at odds with Koeman. Those times are now over since Xavi has become the national team coach of the Netherlands, and ESPN analyst Marciano Vink also sees that.

According to Vink, under the Spanish training coach there are in any case more possibilities for selecting players than under his predecessor. The analyst tells this on the program Voetbalpraat on ESPN.

''Koeman had never put Veerman back in that position again. He had also never called up Meerdink as a replacement for Malen. Not yet. He had also not called up Van Bommel and Til, you know...'', begins the former PSV player.

At first, Guus Til was actually not in the selection, but due to Justin Kluivert dropping out, Til was able to register with the Netherlands national team after all. Xavi admitted that he made a mistake in that.

''Guus Til is doing great. He deserved to play. I also told him: 'I was wrong, you belong in the squad'. You have to be honest,'' the Spanish coach said earlier in front of the cameras of NOS.

Alongside PSV midfielder, AZ striker Mexx Meerdink was also not initially included in the squad, and Meerdink was allowed to report himself after the withdrawal of former PSV player Donyell Malen. ''It seems as if something more is possible under this national coach. Outside the usual 24 names and the plan that was in place'', concludes Vink, who points to former national coach Ronald Koeman.