Liverpool star out of France clash after viral outbreak

Following a viral outbreak in the Dutch camp, Liverpool star Cody Gakpo leads the list of absentees from the Netherlands' Euro 2024 match against France. 

Five players left the Netherlands camp yesterday after suffering from a viral infection. 

The Dutch football Twitter handle confirmed yesterday that Liverpool's Cody Gakpo, Bayern Munich's Matthijs de Ligt, Newcastle's Sven Botman, PSV Eindhoven's Joey Veerman, and Anderlecht's Bart Verbruggen have left camp after suffering from a virus.

Their illness puts them out of Ronald Koeman's plans as he lines up a team to face Qatar 2022 finalists, France—who have also experienced a camp outbreak, as they had multiple players sick at the World Cup—in the Euro 2024 qualifiers clash in France.  

The illness-related camp exits further deplete a Dutch squad that was already missing key midfielder Frenkie de Jong due to a thigh injury, Steven Bergwijn due to a knee problem, and Denzel Dumfries due to suspension. 

Inter Milan's Stefan de Vrij, Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, and Vitesse Arnhem goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen were called up as replacements.

The Netherlands will have a different, not-so-new manager in the dugout against France in their Euro 2024 qualifiers than Louis Van Gaal, who was in charge during Qatar 2022.

As we comprehensively reported here, Ronald Koeman has taken the Dutch job for the second time, after his first stint ended with him taking the Barcelona job. 

After Louis Van Gaal and Dick Advocaat's three stints, Koeman would be joining Guus Hiddink as having led the national team twice.