Dutch defender, Jurrien Timber, has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to fully recover from a groin injury that has troubled the Arsenal star since mid-March.
The 24-year-old recently featured for 55 minutes in Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, but the Netherlands medical team determined he would not be fit enough to cope with the demands of the tournament.
Timber’s withdrawal was confirmed as the Dutch squad prepared for its final World Cup warm-up fixture against Uzbekistan on Monday in New York.
“The 24-year-old defender has not recovered sufficiently from a groin injury to take part in the World Cup in a medically responsible manner,” the Dutch team announced in a statement (via AP). “In consultation with the medical staff, it has therefore been decided that Timber will leave the national team’s pre-camp in New York after the game against Uzbekistan.”
Netherlands manager, Ronald Koeman, has called up Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida as Timber’s replacement after initially placing him on the standby list.
Following the clash with Uzbekistan, the Dutch squad is expected to move to its World Cup base camp in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Netherlands will begin its World Cup campaign against Japan on June 14 in Dallas before facing Sweden on June 20 in Houston and Tunisia on June 25 in Kansas City.
