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The Netherlands got the news they were hoping for. Both Memphis Depay and Bart Verbruggen have been cleared to start when the Dutch open their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Japan on June 14 in Dallas.
Verbruggen’s hip scare is behind him
Brighton & Hove Albion’s first-choice goalkeeper had given Dutch fans a genuine reason to worry. Verbruggen picked up a hip bruise during a friendly against Uzbekistan on June 8, forcing him off the pitch in the 67th minute.
He missed training on June 10. Coach Ronald Koeman described the injury as minor but acknowledged the team was taking a “day-by-day” approach to monitoring Verbruggen’s availability.
In the end, the goalkeeper was declared fit by match time. Koeman also noted that backup Mark Flekken remained ready in case of any late changes.
Depay returns to the attack
Memphis Depay’s situation was a slower burn. The forward had been dealing with a thigh injury that limited his playing time in the months leading up to the tournament.
Koeman expressed optimism about both players’ readiness, framing their availability as a reflection of the squad’s overall morale and defensive strength heading into the Japan match.
What to watch in this Group B opener
The risk, of course, is that “fit to start” and “fully fit” aren’t always the same thing. A thigh injury that limited months of playtime doesn’t vanish overnight, and a hip bruise sustained six days before kickoff might not be entirely pain-free. Koeman confirmed that alternatives like Mark Flekken are ready in case of any late changes.
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