Ryan Gravenberch has made a surprising return to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024 after being absent from international duty since last summer.
Gravenberch, who moved to Liverpool last summer, was excluded from both the senior and U21 Netherlands squads for the entire season. His decision to turn down a call-up for two U21 Euro qualifiers against Moldova and North Macedonia in September to settle in at Liverpool led to criticism from senior Dutch officials.
As a result, he was not considered for selection in the October, November, and March international breaks. However, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman has now included him in the provisional 30-man squad for the European Championship. Gravenberch joins his Liverpool teammates Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo in the squad.
This 30-man squad will be trimmed to 26 players for the tournament, with three outfield players and one goalkeeper set to be left out. Gravenberch will need to prove his worth during this period to secure his place in the final squad. Despite his limited international appearances, the 22-year-old is considered one of the more experienced midfielders in Koeman’s squad. Only Gini Wijnaldum, Frenkie de Jong, Marten de Roon, and Teun Koopmeiners have more senior caps than Gravenberch’s 11.
Gravenberch is set to join 16 other players for a preliminary training camp from May 27 to 29, before the full squad gathers on June 1. The Netherlands will play warm-up friendlies against Canada on June 6 and Iceland on June 10 before kicking off their Euro 2024 campaign in Group D, where they will face Poland, France, and Austria.
Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate has been called up by France manager Didier Deschamps for the tournament, and Dominik Szoboszlai will captain Hungary. Several other Liverpool players are expected to receive call-ups, with Scotland, England, and Portugal yet to announce their squads. Andy Robertson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Diogo Jota are likely inclusions, while England manager Gareth Southgate might consider Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott following UEFA’s confirmation of expanded squads from 23 to 26 players.
Since his £34 million transfer from Bayern Munich, Gravenberch has made 37 appearances for Liverpool, scoring four goals and providing two assists. His return to the Netherlands squad marks a significant moment in his career, offering him a chance to showcase his talent on the European stage.