- The Netherlands has lost two players due to injury prior to the 2024 European Championship
- Joshua Zirkzee left a trip to Disneyland to join the squad
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Manchester United and Arsenal target Joshua Zirkzee has abandoned a trip to Disney World to play at Euro 2024 after receiving a late call-up to the Dutch squad.
Zirkzee, 23, had a breakthrough season with Bologna, scoring 12 goals in all competitions. His team finished fifth in Serie A and qualified for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
But he was left out of the original 26-man Dutch squad for this summer’s tournament in Germany and headed to Disney World in Florida to get some rest.
However, injuries to key midfielders Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners forced Ronald Koeman to sign replacements, and he turned to Zirkzee.
Zirkzee announced the news on social media, posting a selfie of herself smiling alongside the caption “When you get the call to leave Disney for the Euro.”
Joshua Zirkzee (pictured) posted a smiling selfie after being called up as a late replacement for the Dutch squad for Euro 2024
He drove away from Disney World after giving up a trip to the Florida resort to join his national team
Zirkzee has been called up after injuries to Frenkie de Jong (L) and Teun Koopmeiners (R)
He also posted a short video of himself driving away from Disneyland with the message “Happy me pt 2” after cutting short his vacation to join his national team.
First and foremost, Zirkzee was perhaps a surprising omission after an eye-catching campaign in Italy, which saw him linked with a possible move to the Premier League this summer, with United and Arsenal both monitoring the young forward.
He has yet to make his senior debut for the Netherlands, but that could change in the coming days and weeks, especially if Koeman’s men can go deep into the tournament.
Chelsea’s Ian Maatsen has also been called up to strengthen the squad after an impressive end to the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund as they reached the Champions League final.
He was included in Koeman’s provisional squad but was dropped at the last minute, but is now back in the ranks to provide cover after the Netherlands suffered a double injury blow.
Maatsen was on holiday in Mykonos with his girlfriend Emely Tuinder when he got the call, but did not hesitate to give up his trip to represent his country.
Ian Maatsen (right) has also been called up and has given up a holiday to Mykonos with his girlfriend Emely Tuinder (left) to play for his country
Zirkzee and Maatsen do not have much time to catch up with their teammate, because the Dutch team will play the opening match of the tournament against Poland on Sunday afternoon.
They will then face France and Austria in their other two Group D matches as they look to improve on their last-16 exit from the last European Championship three years ago.