AZ striker Mexx Meerdink makes his debut in the Dutch national team squad

The Dutch national team plays an away match against Malta on Thursday, October 9th at 8:45 PM. Three days later, on Sunday, October 12th, the Netherlands faces Finland at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam. Kick-off is at 6:00 PM. The match is sold out.

Memphis Depay, the all-time top scorer, and Wout Weghorst are the other two strikers in the 24-man squad. Winger Donyell Malen could also play in that position. Former Ajax striker Brian Brobbey, who now plays for Sunderland, has not been selected.

With his selection, Meerdink follows in the footsteps of his father, Martijn, who played his only international match against Ecuador in March 2006. Marco van Basten was the national coach at the time. Meerdink is competing with Irishman Troy Parrott for the striker position at AZ this season. He has scored twice in the first seven rounds of the Eredivisie.

Compared to the previous international break, Koeman has omitted Sem Steijn (Feyenoord), Noa Lang (Napoli), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), and Matthijs de Ligt (Manchester United). Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool) and Quilindschy Hartman (Burnley) are back in the squad. Hartman has played four international matches and last played for the Dutch national team in November 2023.

Goalkeeper: Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defense: Nathan Aké (Manchester City), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter), Jeremie Frimpong (Liverpool), Quilindschy Hartman (Burnley), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton & Hove Albion), Jurriën Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Stefan de Vrij (Inter)

Midfield: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City), Jerdy Schouten (PSV), Quinten Timber (Feyenoord)

Attack: Memphis Depay (Corinthians), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Aston Villa), Mexx Meerdink (AZ), Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur), Wout Weghorst (Ajax)