Joshua Zirkzee earned a call-up to the Netherlands' Euro 2024 squad after a breakout season with Bologna but has found things much tougher since joining Manchester United
Joshua Zirkzee reacts during Man Utd vs Fulham
Joshua Zirkzee has endured a difficult first season at Manchester United (
Image: Getty Images)
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has dealt Joshua Zirkzee a fresh blow by claiming the frontman isn't good enough to turn out for his national side.
Zirkzee was part of the Oranje squad which reached the semi-finals at Euro 2024, having earned a call-up off the back of his form for Bologna. The 23-year-old made his senior international debut during the quarter-final victory over Turkey and came off the bench in the closing stages of the semi-final defeat to England.
He made four more appearances during the autumn internationals, scoring his first Netherlands goal in a UEFA Nations League victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. He won't be involved in the Nations League quarter-finals against Spain, though, with Koeman leaving him out of a preliminary squad.
It has been a difficult season for Zirkzee, who has scored just three times in 28 Premier League appearances since joining Manchester United. He broke his European duck in the recent draw away to Real Sociedad, but Koeman's comments still make for painful reading.
“He wasn’t in the preliminary selection because I don’t think he’s good enough at the moment," Koeman told Studio Voetbal (via Sport Witness). "Especially scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong.
“Yes, in principle form and fitness are always leading, but that is not always possible. We have a lot of central defenders and midfielders, but we are somewhat limited up front.
“But even then, I still think that you have to earn your selection, and I think he doesn’t deserve that now, but that could be the case again in another period.”
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Ronald Koeman has explained his reasons for overlooking Zirkzee for the Dutch squad (
Image:
ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Premier League pair Donyell Malen and Justin Kluivert are among the attacking options in Koeman's squad. Corinthians striker Memphis Depay is also one of those in the preliminary group and could represent his country for the first time since moving to Brazil.
Zirkzee hasn't scored in the Premier League since a brace against Everton in December, but an injury crisis has left United head coach Ruben Amorim with little choice in his selection. Sunday's draw with Arsenal was a fourth straight league start for the Dutchman, who has six goals across 42 games in all competitions this term.
One of those goals was an important one against Real Sociedad, though. United will move into the quarter-finals of the Europa League with a win at Old Trafford on Thursday, and head coach Ruben Amorim praised the forward after his efforts in San Sebastian.
“He deserved it, he is working well and he is improving a lot of things in his game," Amorim said after the draw. "He deserves this moment and he was important for us today."
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