Dutch Juniors Face Goalkeeping & defensive Shifts Ahead of Crucial Euro qualifiers
The Netherlands’ Under-21 team will head into upcoming European Championship qualification matches with altered plans after Feyenoord defender Givairo Read and AZ goalkeeper Rome-Jayden Owusu-Oduro withdrew due to injury, the KNVB announced today. The pair’s absence forces national coach Michael Reiziger to adjust his squad ahead of vital contests against Slovenia and Israel.
These matches are critical for the Dutch Juniors’ hopes of reaching the 2027 European Championship. After beginning qualification last month with draws against Israel (2-2) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (0-0), the team currently sits in fourth place in their qualifying group. The upcoming fixtures represent an early prospect to gain ground and solidify their position in a competitive field.
Read was substituted during Feyenoord’s recent match against Go Ahead Eagles with a muscle injury, while Owusu-Oduro was unable to finish his last Premier League game against PSV, also due to injury.
To fill the gaps, Reiziger has called up AZ’s Elijah Dijkstra and Jong PSV’s Niek Schiks. Dijkstra has one prior appearance for the Dutch Juniors, while this will be Schiks’ first call-up to the team.
The Dutch Juniors will first host Slovenia on Friday, followed by an away match against Israel next Tuesday, which will be played in Hungary.
