Football
Xavi Excludes Memphis Depay from First Orange Squad, Calls It His Toughest Decision: 'Door Remains Open'
Xavi has named his first squad for the Netherlands national team, excluding top scorer Memphis Depay, a decision he described as the most difficult of his tenure so far. The Spanish coach stated that while Depay reacted maturely to being left out, the door remains open for him and other players who perform well. Xavi confirmed Virgil van Dijk will continue as captain and defended his selection of 26 players as sufficient. He also addressed criticism regarding Guus Til and Luciano Valente, asserting that playing in the Eredivisie does not diminish chances and praising the high level of Dutch football.
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