In a stunning turn of events, Jeremie Frimpong has been left out of the Netherlands squad for this summer’s World Cup. The Liverpool wing-back has been axed in a surprise decision that few saw coming.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman announced his final 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Only three Liverpool players made the cut this time around, leaving one of Anfield’s high-profile stars behind.
The squad breakdown and alternatives
While Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, and Cody Gakpo have all been safely named to the roster, Frimpong has been shockingly omitted. The decision is particularly surprising given his consistency in the national setup; he had made every single Dutch call-up barring those he missed through injury since October 2023.
In his place, Koeman has opted for alternative right-back options. Liverpool transfer target Denzel Dumfries has made the squad, alongside Arsenal‘s Jurrien Timber, filling out the defensive flanks for the Oranje.
As a result of the snub, Frimpong is now set to take an extended break over the summer. He will report back to the AXA Training Centre for the start of Liverpool’s pre-season in early July.
Form and fitness struggles
“This will obviously be a major blow to the 25-year-old but one which could be accepted given his struggles for form and fitness since joining Liverpool.”
Frimpong’s debut season on Merseyside was severely disrupted by physical setbacks. Recurring hamstring injuries saw the dynamic wide player miss a staggering 26 games for both club and country in the season just gone, enduring five different spells out of the side.
When he was on the pitch, he struggled to replicate the blistering output that made him famous in Germany. He made 35 appearances for Liverpool but scored only two goals and laid on two assists. For context:
| Season / Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 23/24 Bayer Leverkusen | 48 | 5 | 12 |
| 25/26 Liverpool | 35 | 2 | 2 |
Ronald Koeman offered an honest but brutal response explaining why he left out Liverpool star by stating:
“I didn’t take Frimpong because of what I saw in the season,” Koeman explained in his press conference.
“Several physical problems. Let’s remember the match against Ecuador [friendly in March], when he came on at halftime and soon left, injured. I had to choose, and I opted for another on the right flank.”
The player in question is Brighton’s Mats Wieffer, who is on the list as a defender despite being able to play in a defensive midfield position.
Koeman added: “Wieffer enters the list as a defender. With Frimpong’s problems, I see him as someone who can score more from the full-back position. He’s been doing this well at Brighton.”
The Dutch squad will move forward with their tournament preparations, starting with two warm-up friendlies against Algeria on June 3 and Uzbekistan on June 8.
Once they arrive at the World Cup, Koeman’s side will compete in Group F. Their group stage schedule includes:
- June 14: vs. Wataru Endo‘s Japan
- June 20: vs. Alexander Isak‘s Sweden
- June 26: vs. Tunisia
With Frimpong watching from home, captain Van Dijk, Gravenberch, and Gakpo are all expected to feature heavily for their country.
ReadLiverpoolFC Verdict
This will obviously be a major blow to the 25-year-old but one which could be accepted given his struggles for form and fitness since joining Liverpool.
While it is incredibly harsh for any player to miss out on a major tournament, Koeman’s decision isn’t entirely without logic. Frimpong’s inability to stay on the pitch has completely derailed his momentum. Five separate injury lay-offs in a single season make it incredibly difficult for a manager to trust a player’s reliability in a grueling tournament format.
Furthermore, tactical identity has played a massive part in his international omission.
Not a natural right-back and far from accomplished enough to replace Mohamed Salah on the right wing, he has looked lost at times, with less space to drive into with his lightning pace than in the Bundesliga.
Without the wide-open spaces of Germany or a permanent wing-back system to accommodate him, Frimpong has caught between positions at Anfield.
If he can use this summer break to fully heal his hamstrings and get a complete pre-season under his belt, this disappointment could ultimately prove to be a blessing in disguise for his Liverpool career.
