49erssports.com - The Dutch national team coach, Louis van Gaal brought a combination of senior and junior players from the 26 players he brought at the 2022 World Cup. From this combination, the 71-year-old coach gave a surprise by summoning a young player, Xavi Simons.
Calling Xavi Simons to the Dutch squad is actually not without reason. The 19-year-old was called up by Louis van Gaal because of his excellent performances with PSV Eindhoven this season.
In addition, van Gaal also did not forget the experience of senior players to compensate for the quality of the young players he called. Names such as Daley Blind, Virgil van Dijk, and Remko Pasveer were also called into the Ons Oranje squad.
However, Xavi Simons is not the only young player brought by Louis van Gaal at the 2022 World Cup. Together with Simons, here are the four youngest players who will appear in Qatar later. Who are they?
Jurien Timber
Jurien Timber is predicted to be a solid wall with the Dutch national team at the 2022 World Cup later. This 21-year-old player has proven his quality in guarding the Ons Oranje defense and with Ajax Amsterdam.
Timber has the potential to fill one of the three defenders in the 3-5-2 scheme carried by van Gaal during the grand tournament. Despite his young age, Timber has already won 10 caps for the Netherlands and has been a mainstay of Ons Oranje during his time in the 2022 UEFA Nations League.
In total, he only missed two games and always played an important role in the other four games as a starter. Together with Ajax, he also became a pillar of the back line of his team.
The Ajax youth native has played 21 times so far and has provided two assists with de Amsterdammers.
Jeremie Frimpong
Bayer Leverkusen player, Jeremie Frimpong managed to enter the 26 names brought by Louis van Gaal at the 2022 World Cup. This was inseparable from his brilliant work with the club nicknamed Die Werkself.
Frimpong managed to establish himself as one of the sources of Leverkusen's goals in the Bundesliga this season. The 21-year-old right-back appeared sharp and now has a collection of five goals from 21 appearances in all competitions.
With his call-up to the Dutch national team, the former Celtic player first gained the trust of defending the senior squad of Ons Oranje. Previously, Frimpong was a member of the Netherlands U-21 national team and had also played in the U-20 and U-19 squads.
Kenneth Taylor
The next young player who is predicted to be a differentiating player in the Dutch national team is Kenneth Taylor. The 20-year-old player is enjoying his career with the Ajax senior team.
Taylor occupies the position of central midfielder is believed to have the ability to attack and defend equally well. He was able to become the motor of attack at his club so that his impressive performance was ogled by van Gaal.
With de Amsterdammers, Taylor has recorded five goals and four assists in 19 appearances. For Ons Oranje, he has already collected two caps and only made his debut with the senior national team in September 2022.
Xavi Simons
The youngest player in the Dutch national team squad at the 2022 World Cup is Xavi Simons. This 19-year-old player is indeed in a state of on fire with his club, PSV.
Simons is known as an attacking midfielder but can be plotted as a second striker. This former PSG player is equipped with the attributes of above average speed and has a good goal instinct.
Evidently, Simons has scored 10 goals and four assists from 22 appearances in all competitions with PSV. Armed with this score, van Gaal has no reason not to bring the player to Qatar later.