Jeremie Frimpong has been left out of new Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernández's first squad. The Spanish coach, who succeeded Ronald Koeman, is set to name his selection for the upcoming Nations League matches, as reported by Soccernews.nl.
Xavi was in Zeist this week to meet his technical staff and the Dutch press. His first squad immediately sends a clear signal about his intentions. Valentijn Driessen of De Telegraaf commented: "Met zijn selectie kun je al zien wat hij van plan is. Hij wil hoog druk zetten." This could clash with the preference of captain Virgil van Dijk, who according to Driessen does not like a high press.
Why is Frimpong missing from the squad?
The absence of Jeremie Frimpong is notable. The right-back, who can also play in midfield, moved to Liverpool in the summer of 2025. His start in England has been difficult, however. After a recent match against Nottingham Forest he faced heavy criticism. Sports Illustrated reported that Frimpong needs to work on his crossing and stated: "Het blijft een mysterie waarom Liverpool hem wilde hebben." Liverpool Echo and Daily Express both gave him a match rating of just 4. This Is Anfield called him a mystery signing and an easy target for opponents.
With Jurriën Timber injured, the competition for the right-back spot now seems to be mainly between Denzel Dumfries and other options. Xavi is therefore opting for experience and reliability in his first selection, as the Netherlands are currently unbeaten in their last five matches and lead their World Cup qualifying group with 7 points from 3 games.
What are the upcoming fixtures?
The first test for Xavi's Netherlands comes on Thursday, 24 September 2026 at 20:45 at the Johan Cruijff ArenA against Germany. This is also the next official match on the calendar. This is followed by an away match against Serbia on Sunday, 27 September at 18:00 in Belgrade. The first two matches of this long international break are therefore crucial. The full schedule for the coming months can be found on our fixtures page.
After the September matches, the team travels to Thessaloniki for an away game against Greece on Thursday, 1 October at 20:45. The return against Serbia is on Sunday, 4 October at 20:45 at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven. After a break for club football, the Nations League campaign resumes with a home match against Greece on Friday, 13 November in Amsterdam, followed by the return match against Germany on Monday, 16 November at the Olympiastadion in Berlin.
What is the current form of the team?
Xavi takes over a team in excellent form. The last five official matches yielded three wins and two draws (DDWWW). The team is unbeaten in that run. The last result was a 1-1 draw against Morocco on 30 June 2026. In World Cup qualifying, the Netherlands top the group with 7 points from 3 matches, leading Japan by 2 points. The goal difference is impressive: 10 goals scored and 4 conceded. The current standings can always be followed on our standings page.
The new coach therefore inherits a team with momentum. Criticism of his predecessor Ronald Koeman, who selected Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst for the World Cup while talents like Kees Smit and Luciano Valente were left out, is still fresh. Xavi's first choices, including omitting Frimpong, show a new direction. The coming weeks, with four Nations League matches in a short time, will reveal if his vision bears immediate fruit. The composition of his final squad can be seen on the squad page once it is announced.
