A Man United star was left out of his national team for their upcoming Nations League fixtures, as the manager insisted he is ‘not good enough’ to play for them at the moment.
Squads for the next international break are expected to be released by each nation this week, with Thomas Tuchel set to name his first England squad on Thursday.
The final break of the 2024-25 season begins after the conclusion of this weekend’s Premier League fixtures, and runs until March 29, when the FA Cup returns for the quarter-final round.
Zirkzee made his senior international debut against Turkey at Euro 2024 and has been included in every squad since then, earning six caps.
However, his recent form, which has seen him score just twice in his last 18 games, has omitted him from selection, as Koeman insisted the 23-year-old did not ‘deserve’ to be called up.
Ronald Koeman said Joshua Zirkzee is ‘not good enough’ to play for the Netherlands right now
The Man United striker has scored just two goals in his last 18 games, and only five this season
Since making his international debut at Euro 2024, Zirkzee has been included in every squad
‘He wasn’t in the preliminary selection because I don’t think he’s good enough at the moment,’ the veteran manager told Studio Voetbal.
‘Especially scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong.
‘Yes, in principle, form and fitness are always leading, but that is not always possible.
‘We have a lot of central defenders and midfielders, but we are somewhat limited up front.
‘But even then, I still think that you have to earn your selection, and I think he doesn’t deserve that now, but that could be the case again in another period.’
Joining Zirkzee in being omitted from the Netherlands’ latest squad is defender Matthijs de Ligt.
The latter has also featured in every squad for his country when fit, since earning his first cap in 2017.
Zirkzee has scored just three Premier League goals for United since joining from Bologna for £36.5million last summer.
Centre back Matthijs de Ligt joined Zirkzee in being omitted from the latest Netherlands squad
Ruben Amorim argued that Zirkzee has been improving recently despite United’s dismal form
But, perhaps more worryingly, the Red Devils striker has not even been testing his luck in front of goal; in 28 games, Zirkzee has fired just 25 shots – less than a shot per game.
Despite Koeman’s recent comments, Ruben Amorim argued that Zirkzee has been improving recently.
Speaking after United’s 1-1 draw in the Europa League with Real Sociedad last week, the Portuguese manager said: ‘I think some players are improving individually. Josh, I think is improving, in changing, a little bit, the position.’
United are on track to log their worst goalscoring tally in a Premier League campaign ever, eclipsing Louis van Gaal’s final season in 2015-16 when they scored 49 goals.
So far this season, United have netted just 34 in 28 league games; at this rate, they are set to finish the season on 46 goals.
The Red Devils are also enduring a historically poor season in the Premier League table.
In Erik ten Hag’s final full season at Old Trafford, his side logged their lowest finish in the rebranded top-flight (eighth). But that record is set to be broken one year later, with United languishing in 14th under Ruben Amorim.
