Jurrien Timber Ruled Out of Netherlands World Cup Squad

Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber will miss the Netherlands’ FIFA World Cup campaign after failing to recover from a groin injury, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed.

The 24-year-old has been sidelined since mid-March because of the injury. However, he made a brief return when he came on as a 66th-minute substitute for Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest on 30 May. It was his first appearance since Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Everton on 14 March.

Before the Champions League final, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said Timber was “fit” to play. Despite that return, the defender has not recovered enough to take part in the World Cup.

The KNVB announced on Monday that Timber had “not recovered sufficiently” to participate in the tournament in a “medically responsible manner”.

“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 [friendly] game against Uzbekistan,” the KNVB added.

Timber has represented the Netherlands 23 times since making his international debut in June 2021.

Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has named Lutsharel Geertruida as Timber’s replacement. The 25-year-old spent last season on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig.

The Dutch team will begin their Group F campaign against Japan on 14 June before facing Sweden and Tunisia.