Netherlands: Memphis Depay facing possible World Cup 2026 absence?
Memphis Depay is going through a tough spell. Sidelined by injury and absent from the squad, the striker’s World Cup 2026 hopes are looking bleaker by the day. His coach Ronald Koeman has made no effort to hide his doubts.
The Memphis Depay situation is becoming a real concern in the Netherlands. The striker, a key figure in the Oranje attack, is currently off the pitch due to injury. Even more worrying, he’s not even present at the Zeist training center.
"No, he’s not here. He’s in the Netherlands and receiving treatment here. But he’s not present. He was supposed to join a training session, but I haven’t seen him yet," Ronald Koeman admitted.
Koeman’s statement reveals a certain uncertainty about the real state of his player. As the 2026 World Cup draws nearer, Depay’s physical condition is becoming a sensitive issue. The Dutch coach is not hiding his concerns, especially as several key players have already struggled with injuries in recent months.
"Yes, the fact that this is happening now is obviously not a good sign. Even though he’s played several full matches before. And if you look at the squad, several other players have also had spells out injured. I’m more worried about them than about the others," he acknowledged.
A World Cup spot far from guaranteed
Despite being the Netherlands’ all-time top scorer, Memphis Depay has no guarantee of making the next World Cup squad. For Koeman, only performance and fitness will matter.
"He needs to have played matches. I’m convinced of that. We saw it at Euro 2024 as well. I think he needs to be in peak condition," he stressed.
The Dutch manager also isn’t ruling out learning from past mistakes.
"We had the same problem with several players back then, who, for one reason or another, weren’t 100%. I wonder if I’d make the same mistake again."
For Memphis Depay, the countdown is on for the Dutch star.
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