Koeman drops Frimpong from Netherlands World Cup squad citing injury-hit Liverpool season

Ronald Koeman has explained why Jeremie Frimpong was omitted from the Netherlands’ 26-man squad for the 2025 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, pointing to the Liverpool wing-back’s injury-disrupted debut season at Anfield as the decisive factor.

Frimpong, who joined Liverpool for £29 million from Bayer Leverkusen last summer, suffered three separate physical setbacks during the campaign and was unable to hold down a regular starting position. Koeman made clear that a damaging moment in a March friendly against Ecuador only reinforced his concerns. “I didn’t take Frimpong because of what I saw in the season. Several physical problems,” the Netherlands manager said. “Let’s remember the match against Ecuador, when he came on at halftime and soon left, injured. I had to choose, and I opted for another on the right flank.”

Three of Frimpong’s Liverpool team-mates did earn their places in the squad. Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo were all selected, with the Netherlands drawn into Group F alongside Japan, Sweden and Tunisia. The Dutch open their campaign against Japan on June 14, face Sweden on June 20 and conclude the group stage against Tunisia on June 26.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot had already acknowledged in March how costly Frimpong’s absences had been for the club. “Jeremie has shown every time he comes in that when you face low blocks, how important pace is,” Slot said. “Pace in modern football, apart from being really strong at set-pieces, is crucial. We thought that was something we could add to this team. But unfortunately we’ve only been able to use one player we signed who has a lot of pace in our front three and that is Hugo [Ekitike].”

Frimpong himself has spoken candidly about the toll of his first year at Liverpool. “It’s never happened in my career. I’ve had three injuries and, on top of that, the team is not doing so well, like we should do,” he told the Daily Telegraph. “There have been a lot of challenges. If we could have won one of the FA Cup or the Champions League, it wouldn’t have been as bad. How have I dealt with it? I’ve got my family, my girlfriend. You have to understand we are human. We’ve got feelings as well.”

The omission is a significant blow for the 24-year-old, who will now spend the summer focused on recovering full fitness ahead of next season rather than featuring on the sport’s biggest stage.