The Dutch national team completed the first training session of this international period on Tuesday, under the watchful eye of more than twenty former internationals. All 23 selected players were on the field at the KNVB Campus in Zeist.
Denzel Dumfries also participated in training, three days after he suffered a heavy defeat with Internazionale in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain (5-0). The same applies to Stefan de Vrij, who remained on the bench for ninety minutes in Munich with the Italians.
For Kjell Scherpen it was his first training with Oranje in more than two years. The goalkeeper of Austrian Sturm Graz, who is still waiting for his international debut, has been called up again after two years because Bart Verbruggen is not fit.
Mark Flekken is likely to keep in the World Cup qualifying matches against Finland (Saturday in Helsinki) and Malta (next week Tuesday in Groningen). The 32-year-old goalkeeper completed his transfer from Brentford to Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday.
It is questionable whether Jorrel Hato will complete the international period with Oranje, because the Ajacied has to come into action later this month with Jong Oranje at the European Championship under-21 in Slovakia. National coach Ronald Koeman may have Hato join Jong Oranje after the international match against Finland, but that depends on the fitness of Nathan Aké.
Poortvliet sees nephew Van Hecke training
Special about Tuesday’s training was that more than twenty former Oranje internationals were on the sidelines, including Hans van Breukelen, Sjaak Swart, Willy van de Kerkhof, Wim Rijsbergen, Kees Kist and Bert van Marwijk. They were invited by the KNVB.
Jan Poortvliet, who played in the final of the 1978 World Cup, was also there. He is the uncle of Oranje defender Jan Paul van Hecke.
Inviting the former internationals fits in with the KNVB’s desire to strengthen the bond with former internationals.