Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal included three players of Ghanaian descent in his 26-man squad for the 2022 Fifa World Cup released on Friday.
The trio includes enterprising right-back Jeremie Frimpong who plays for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga, PSV Eindhoven forward Cody Gakpo and injured Memphis Depay.
Depay – the FC Barcelona forward – has not played since limping off during the Netherlands’ Nations League match against Poland on 22 September, and has played less than 150 minutes for the Laliga leaders this season.
But Van Gaal had already said his top scorer would be certain of a place as long as there was a chance of him playing during the tournament.
Van Gaal sprung a surprise in goal by leaving out 33-year-old Cillessen, who rejoined his old club NEC Nijmegen from Valencia this summer in the hope of reviving his international career.
Also, there was no spot for another Ghanaian born in striker Brian Brobbey of Ajax Amsterdam.
Netherlands will battle in Group A of the 2022 Fifa World Cup with hosts Qatar, Ecuador and African champions Senegal.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax Amsterdam)
Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Internazionale), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munchen), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Stefan de Vrij (Internazionale)
Midfielders: Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta Bergamo), Marten de Roon (Atalanta Bergamo), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax)
Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax Amsterdam), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Cody Gakpo (PSV), Vincent Janssen (Antwerp), Luuk de Jong (PSV), Noah Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas)
