
The Dutch Football Association says five players from its national team, assembled from Sunday to face World Cup finalists France in their opening qualifier for the 2024 European Championship, have been sent home after contact with a viral infection.
Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, along with Sven Botman, Joey Veerman and Bart Verbruggen left the orange team's training camp.
The federation did not give details about the virus, which has "folded" half of the national team, considering that earlier this week, two more starters had left due to injuries.
The departures are another blow for coach Ronald Koeman ahead of the first game of his second term in charge of the orange national team. Already, this week, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong and Ajax winger Steven Bergwijn left due to injuries.
The Netherlands play France at the Stade de France on Friday in a Euro 2024 Group B qualifier before returning home to face Gibraltar in Rotterdam on Monday.