The Netherlands go into their World Cup opener against Japan on Sunday with a genuine question mark between the posts. Bart Verbruggen hobbled off during Monday's 2-1 friendly win over Uzbekistan after falling heavily while catching a ball, and as of Wednesday he still hasn't trained.
Ronald Koeman is playing it measured. "It's only a bruise, so we don't know yet how things will be on Sunday. We are hopeful, but we'll have to see how far along he actually is." That's not exactly a clearance. That's a coach buying time.
Verbruggen might sit — so who steps in?
Mark Flekken came on to finish the Uzbekistan match, and Robin Roefs is third in line after winning his first cap just last week against Algeria. Neither is a like-for-like replacement for Verbruggen, who has been first choice and one of the more reliable keepers in Europe over the last two seasons at Brighton. Koeman acknowledged there are "other good goalkeepers" — which is technically true and also not especially reassuring when you're preparing for a tournament opener.
The timing matters. Japan are organized, disciplined defensively, and capable of making life difficult for any side lacking full cohesion. A goalkeeper making his World Cup debut under those circumstances isn't ideal preparation. Dutch clean sheet prices will be shifting accordingly.
Koeman was also pressed on Memphis Depay, who has barely played in three months due to a thigh injury. The coach's response was pointed: "I think if I still have doubts then I haven't done my homework properly." Read into that what you will — but he also noted Depay is getting closer to top level "every day."
- Verbruggen: missed Wednesday training, status uncertain for Sunday
- Flekken: took over in the Uzbekistan friendly, likely next in line
- Roefs: capped for the first time last week, third choice
- Depay: returning from thigh injury, involvement against Japan still unclear
"He is our all-time leading goal scorer and we need him," Koeman said of Depay. That's pressure, not reassurance. The Netherlands could potentially start Sunday's opener without either of their two most prominent selection concerns fully fit. That's a shaky foundation for a side with genuine tournament ambitions.
