NEW YORK (AP) — Dutch defender Julien Timber will be ruled out of the World Cup on Monday due to a groin problem that has limited the 24-year-old Arsenal since mid-March.
Timber was able to play 55 minutes for Arsenal champions league final The match against Paris Saint-Germain about a week ago. However, the Dutch team, still highly ranked, decided that he was not suitable enough for the rigors of the World Cup.
He was ruled out as the Netherlands prepared for a final warm-up match against Uzbekistan in New York on Monday.
“The 24-year-old defender has not recovered sufficiently from his groin injury to participate in the World Cup in a medically responsible manner,” the Dutch team said in a statement. “Therefore, in consultation with the medical staff, it has been decided that Timber will leave the national team’s pre-campus in New York after the match against Uzbekistan.”
Timber will be replaced by Sunderland defender Lutcharel Geertruida, who was on manager Ronald Koeman’s waiting list.
After the match in New York, the Dutch national team will head to their base camp in Kansas City, Missouri. The World Cup opener will be against Japan in Dallas on June 14th, followed by Sweden in Houston on June 20th and Tunisia in Kansas City on June 25th.
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