De Ligt, Zirkzee Excluded from Netherlands' Nations League Squad

Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee have been excluded from the Netherlands' provisional squad for the Nations League quarter-finals against Spain, marking a significant moment for De Ligt as it's the first time he has been left out since his debut in 2017. Both players have struggled during their first season at Manchester United, with Zirkzee managing only five goals in 39 appearances and De Ligt facing criticism for his performances, including a recent error-laden display against Germany. Manager Ronald Koeman has assembled a 25-man squad featuring notable Premier League players, including Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo, while also welcoming Memphis Depay back after his move to Brazil. The Dutch team will host Spain on March 20 and travel for the second leg three days later, as they aim to advance in the competition despite the absence of these two key players. Given their struggles, their omissions appear to be based on performance rather than fitness, reflecting the current state of the team as they prepare for the upcoming matches.