Wouter Goes will still go to the European Championship in Slovakia with Jong Oranje. The AZ defender is the replacement for the injured Ajax player Youri Baas.
Goes was initially left out of the selection by national coach Michael Reiziger. Among others, Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough), Ryan Flamingo (PSV) and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (Rangers FC) were preferred over the AZ player.
Now a place has become available in the 23-man selection. Baas already had to miss Ajax’s last league matches due to injury. The European Championship also comes too early for the left-footed defender.
Goes, who played four international matches for Jong Oranje, made his definitive breakthrough at AZ this season. At the same time, he often stood out with hard play and provocative behavior. “On the one hand, it’s good when people talk about you. That means you’re doing something good. But I still have things to learn,” he recently said about that.
Earlier on Friday there was already a change in the European Championship selection of Jong Oranje. FC Groningen standout Luciano Valente, who is reportedly on his way to Feyenoord, is replacing the injured NEC midfielder Dirk Proper.
Jong Oranje starts the European Championship on Thursday, June 12 with a match against Finland. Denmark and Ukraine are the other opponents in the group stage. If the quarter-finals are reached, then France, Portugal, Poland or Georgia await.
The 23-man European Championship selection of Jong Oranje
Goalkeepers: Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro (AZ), Calvin Raatsie (Excelsior) and Robin Roefs (NEC).
Defenders: Wouter Goes (AZ), Jorrel Hato (Ajax), Devyne Rensch (AS Roma), Anass Salah-Eddine (AS Roma), Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa), Bjorn Meijer (Club Brugge), Rav van den Berg (Middlesbrough), Ryan Flamingo (PSV) and Neraysho Kasanwirjo (Rangers FC).
Midfielders: Youri Regeer (Ajax), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Antoni Milambo (Feyenoord), Luciano Valente (FC Groningen) and Ezechiel Banzuzi (OH Leuven).
Forwards: Ruben van Bommel (AZ), Ernest Poku (AZ), Thom van Bergen (FC Groningen), Noah Ohio (FC Utrecht), Myron van Brederode (Fortuna Düsseldorf) and Million Manhoef (Stoke City).