Oga Ronald Koeman don talk say e go announce im 26-man squad for World Cup on Wednesday 27 May, but di worries dey plenty. Di Dutch coach dey face some tough decisions wey dey give am headache, especially about di fitness of some key players like Memphis Depay, Jurriën Timber, and Justin Kluivert.
Koeman talk from Barcelona say Depay go fit make minutes on Sunday for Corinthians against Atlético Mineiro. Corinthians also get match against Atletico Platense for Copa Libertadores three days later. Di striker no play since 23 March when e injure im thigh, but Corinthians announce say e don train fully with di group again. Two years ago, Depay also recover late from muscle injury before Euro and still go to Germany.
But di situation for Timber worse. Di Arsenal defender don dey out for two months with groin injury. E fit return on Sunday against Crystal Palace, but e no likely. Arsenal still get Champions League final on 30 May against Paris Saint-Germain. For Kluivert, e return on Tuesday after four months out due to knee surgery, and e cry during im comeback against Manchester City. But whether Koeman go select am remain to see.
From lessons of Euro 2024, Koeman talk say e go only take fully fit players. But e later soften that stance for Studio Voetbal, saying say e fit take one or two players wey no get full rhythm. Koeman understand say Spain go select Lamine Yamal even with hamstring injury, hoping for quick recovery. But e warn say you no fit get too many such players.
Di way Koeman dey handle Depay show say di criteria no be same for everybody. For most players, hard rules dey about match fitness and rhythm. But for Depay, e get more room for interpretation. Di striker don become central figure for Oranje, not just as goalscorer but as playmaker wey fit decide matches. So im presence weigh more than physical consistency.
Wim Kieft compare Depay situation to Yamal for Spain. Yamal don dey injured for one month and no go be fully fit for first World Cup match against Cape Verde on 15 June. But Spanish coach go still select am because e fit make difference later. Kieft believe say for World Cup, Kylian Mbappé go be di main man, not Yamal.
Koeman don show say e ready to take risk with Depay because im potential return big. But di question remain: whether dis special treatment go cause problem for team unity? Some players wey dey struggle for fitness no get same chance. Di coach dey balance between risk and reward, and for Depay, di reward dey high.
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