— (Reuters) When naming his preliminary 39-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar next month, Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal surprised several people.
While still uncapped, Mitchel Bakker, Xavi Simons, and Micky van de Ven were given their first team names. Sven Botman, Jeremie Frimpong and Pascal Struijk, who have received previous call-ups, were also included in a list dominated by nine players from Dutch champions Ajax Amsterdam.
All World Cup-bound nations must choose between 35 and 55 players for a preliminary list by Friday, and they must choose the final 26 players from this list by 1800 GMT on November 14.
The Dutch team is in Group A at the World Cup and will play Senegal on Nov. 21 before facing Ecuador and Qatar in the opening round.
Goalkeepers on the team include Justin Bijlow of Feyenoord, Jasper Cillessen of NEC Nijmengen, Mark Flekken of SC Freiburg, Andries Noppert of Heerenveen, and Remko Pasveer (Ajax Amsterdam)
Defenders include Virgil van Dijk, Nathan Ake of Manchester City, Mitchel Bakker of Bayer Leverkusen, Daley Blind of Ajax Amsterdam, Sven Botman of Newcastle United, Matthijs de Ligt of Bayern Munich, Stefan de Vrij and Denzel Dumfries of Inter Milan, Jeremie Frimpong of Bayer Leverkusen, Tyrell Malacia of Manchester United, Devyne Rensch of Ajax Amsterdam, Pascal (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Marten de Roon (Atalanta), Ryan Gravenberch (Bayern Munich), Davy Klaassen (Ajax Amsterdam), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax Amsterdam), Guus Til, Steven Berghuis (Ajax Amsterdam), Jordy Clasie (AZ Alkmaar), Mart (PSV Eindhoven)
Steven Bergwijn and Brian Brobbey, up front
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preliminary World Cup team roster for the Netherlands
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