Gakpo, De Ligt, 3 others sent home as viral infection hits Netherlands camp

Five players, including Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo and Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, have been sent home from the Netherlands national team camp due to a viral infection, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed.

The other players affected were Newcastle United defender Sven Botman, PSV midfielder Joey Vermeen, and Anderlecht goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.

The KNVB stated that the five players left the squad after medical checks and that they have been replaced by Vitesse goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen, Inter defender Stefan de Vrij, and Bayern Munich midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.

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The sick players were not given further medical details regarding their condition.

The news will be a huge blow for the Dutch team, who will be forced into a rapid rethink of their plans ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against France on Friday.

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De Ligt and Gakpo are key figures in the Netherlands side and their absence will be felt. Botman, Vermeen, and Verbruggen were hoping to gain their first active involvements with the Oranje team.

The Netherlands, who are currently second in their Euro 2024 qualifying group, will take on World Cup runners-up France at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday, followed by a home game against Gibraltar on Monday in Rotterdam.

The virus outbreak will complicate the preparations for the Dutch team, and coach Ronald Koeman will have to make significant changes to his plans to accommodate the changes in his squad.