Netherlands Under-21 coach Michael Reiziger has expressed frustration after being denied access to key players for his team’s European Championship play-off matches against Denmark.
Senior national team head coach Xavi Hernandez opted to include Ruben van Bommel and Gjivai Zechiël in his squad, removing them from consideration for the youth team’s upcoming fixtures, FCUpdate.nl reported.
The decision leaves Reiziger with a depleted roster as the team prepares for a two-legged tie to determine qualification for the 2027 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 16 to July 3, 2027, in Albania and Serbia.
Reiziger confirmed that he held discussions with Xavi, KNVB director of top football Nigel de Jong, and assistant coach Adil Ramzi regarding the availability of the players. Despite his efforts to secure their release for the play-offs, the national team’s management maintained their decision to keep both Van Bommel and Zechiël with the senior squad.
“I would have liked to have had them here,” Reiziger told Voetbal International.
“We have been in consultation and I have indicated how important this period is for us. We talked about it. But the KNVB made the choice to leave them with the Dutch national team. I conform to the KNVB’s choice and will just get to work with these boys. Of course, it is a pity, but I don’t make the policy.”
The absence of Van Bommel and Zechiël compounds an already difficult situation for the Jong Oranje staff. Reiziger is currently navigating the unavailability of 13 players for the Denmark series. Beyond the senior team call-ups, the squad has been affected by injuries and individual career decisions. Defender Wouter Goes is sidelined due to injury, while Ayoub Oufkir has opted to represent Morocco internationally, VOETBALZONE reported.
AZ midfielder Kees Smit will miss the first leg of the tie to focus on training with his club. In the previous international window, a compromise was reached that allowed Zechiël to play for the youth team before joining the senior side, but no such arrangement was made for this period.
Speaking on ESPN’s Voetbalpraat, Anco Jansen questioned the logic behind the move, suggesting that the Under-21 European Championship qualification holds higher immediate importance than the current Nations League window, VoetbalPrimeur reported.
If they don’t make it, you have a problem as Dutch football,” analyst Anco Jansen stated, while Kees Kwakman added that it is questionable to keep Van Bommel and Zechiël with the senior team if they are not expected to play.
Jong Oranje faces a high-stakes series against Denmark to secure their spot in the 2027 tournament. The first leg is scheduled for Friday at 18:30 local time in Denmark. The return leg will take place on Tuesday at 18:30 in the Yanmar Stadion in Almere.
