JEREMIE FRIMPONG REVEALS SHOCK REASON HE HAS BEEN LEFT OUT OF NETHERLANDS WORLD CUP PLANS
Jeremie Frimpong has reportedly revealed the reason behind his absence from the Netherlands national team plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup, shedding light on what he believes is the real factor influencing his omission.
The Liverpool full-back, widely regarded as one of Europe’s most explosive attacking defenders, is said to believe his exclusion is not about form or fitness, but instead down to tactical preferences within the national team setup.
According to reports, Frimpong has pointed to the Netherlands’ system requirements as the key reason, suggesting that the coaching staff currently favour a more defensively disciplined full-back profile over an ultra-attacking wing-back style.
Frimpong’s game is built on speed, aggressive forward runs, and constant attacking involvement in the final third. However, he is understood to believe that this very strength has also become the main reason for his reduced role in international selection discussions.
The Dutch international reportedly feels the national team prioritises structure, positional control, and defensive stability in wide areas, particularly in tournament football where risk management is seen as crucial. In such a system, full-backs are often expected to hold shape first, rather than consistently push into advanced attacking zones.
This tactical direction, according to Frimpong’s perspective, has worked against him despite strong performances at club level.
At Liverpool, Frimpong has established himself as one of the most dangerous attacking full-backs in Europe, consistently contributing to offensive build-up play, creating overloads on the right flank, and providing width in high-tempo attacking systems. His ability to turn defence into attack within seconds has made him a key weapon in matches where space is available in transition.
However, international football presents a different environment. Opponents are often more compact, chances are fewer, and tactical discipline becomes more important than constant attacking output from wide defenders.
Frimpong is said to believe that this contrast between club and international football is the core explanation behind his current situation with the Netherlands setup.
The report also suggests he feels his strengths are being undervalued in a system that does not fully maximise his attacking profile, especially in matches where breaking down low defensive blocks requires creativity and width from deep positions.
Despite the situation, Frimpong is not believed to be in conflict with the national team. Instead, he reportedly remains motivated to continue performing at a high level for Liverpool in order to make his case impossible to ignore ahead of final squad decisions.
Inside Dutch football discussions, his absence has sparked debate among supporters and analysts. Some argue that leaving out a player with his pace and attacking threat removes a valuable tactical dimension, especially in matches where defensive opponents sit deep. Others believe the national team must stick to a balanced structure designed for stability in knockout tournaments.
Former players have also weighed in, highlighting the difficulty of fitting highly offensive full-backs into systems that demand defensive security and positional discipline as a foundation.
Frimpong’s case has therefore become part of a broader tactical debate within Dutch football: whether the national team should lean into more aggressive wide defenders or continue prioritising controlled, structured defensive lines.
For now, his international future remains uncertain, but his reported explanation has added clarity to a situation that had previously been the subject of speculation.
What is clear is that Frimpong still sees himself as fully capable of playing at World Cup level, and believes his performances at club level will eventually force a reconsideration from the national team setup.