Schouten’s injury causes a surprise in the World Cup squad: “That’s started playing in my head more”

Jerdy Schouten will have to miss the World Cup with the Netherlands national team after the PSV captain suffered a serious ACL injury in the home match against FC Utrecht (4-3). As a result, Schouten will be sidelined for at least nine months, meaning the captain will therefore have to miss the World Cup with Oranje in North America.

Head coach Ronald Koeman has, after two years, made room in his squad again for midfield player Marten de Roon of Atalanta Bergamo. At the press conference, Koeman gives an explanation for selecting De Roon.

In addition, the head coach says that Schouten's injury, which would normally have meant she was definitely going to take part in the World Cup, has affected the decision-making process on whether to bring the 35-year-old De Roon back into the squad. ''Marten de Roon was very happy when I called him'', the head coach replies to a journalist's question during the explanation of the squad, as quoted by Voetbal International.

In 2024 De Roon had to miss the European Championship due to an injury and has not been in action for the Netherlands since then, but despite that, the midfielder was still not out of the coach’s radar. ''I’ve had contact with him more than once; he knew he was in the preliminary squad'', Koeman continues.

Ultimately it was the injury of PSV captain Schouten that tipped the balance. "He had more the expectation that he would not be able to, rather than that he would, but after Schouten's injury it's been playing more on my mind, because I was looking at the other midfielders. What type they are. You shouldn't compare attacking midfielders with his role," Koeman said.