Overview
- The federation announced Monday that Timber will leave the Netherlands camp after the friendly with Uzbekistan because medical staff judged his groin has not healed enough for World Cup play.
- Coach Ronald Koeman said Timber’s late-season minutes in Arsenal’s Champions League final hindered his recovery while stressing the decision followed medical advice.
- Lutsharel Geertruida of Sunderland has been called into the squad and will join the team’s Kansas City concentration to fill Timber’s spot.
- Timber’s exclusion follows a troubled 2025–26 season that included multiple injuries and builds on an earlier ACL rupture that cost him Euro 2024, raising questions about his short-term fitness.
- The loss reduces defensive depth for the Oranje after earlier absences of Xavi Simons and Matthijs de Ligt and increases the focus on how quickly Geertruida can integrate and how the staff will manage player minutes during the tournament.