Gravenberch could be punished for rejecting his national team and staying at Liverpool

Ronald Koeman and the Netherlands have a lot at stake in these next two Euro 2024 qualifiers, after the Nations League Final Four thrashing in front of their home fans. And in that dense climate, Koeman has other issues to contend with besides the vital games against Greece at home and Ireland in Dublin.

The two big names for the Orange internationals have been Ryan Gravenberch and Jeremie Frimpong. The Bayer Leverkusen player was already in the limelight in June when he refused to go to the European Championship after failing to make Koeman's squad for the Nations League. Now he has been left out of the squad by former Barça coach Michael Reiziger, and Koeman made clear at a press conference that it was a punishment of sorts.

He used the same recipe for Liverpool's new player, Gravenberch, who was initially cited by Reiziger but "wants to acclimatise to his new team". "We are not happy that Ryan Gravenberch refuses to play for his country," said an angry Koeman, who took the opportunity to send a message to current PSV striker Luuk de Jong, who left the national team. "The ball is in his court. If he thinks he should come back, he can always call me. The door is always open for him.

Gravenberch could be punished

In view of this, it has been reported in the Netherlands that Koeman will not forget Gravenberch's decision to stay at Liverpool and could result in him not being called up for a long time, as has happened with striker Luuk De Jong.