Maiden Call-Up For Van Den Berg As Van Dijk Ruled Unfit

Van Den Berg called up as Van Dijk withdraws from Oranje Squad

One captain lost in Zeist. One striker gone too. And suddenly a Brentford defender who only returned from injury last month is heading to Oranje.

Xavi calls up Van Den Berg after Captain Van Dijk pulls out...

Xavi has handed Brentford defender Sepp van den Berg his first Netherlands call-up to replace the unfit Virgil van Dijk.

Van den Berg, 24, has been called up after Van Dijk withdrew from the squad, the KNVB confirmed on Tuesday.

He will link up with the Oranje squad on Tuesday evening.

The former PEC Zwolle and Liverpool defender comes in for Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who pulled out of the squad on Monday evening. The Liverpool star was not fit enough to join Xavi's squad, despite already reporting to the KNVB campus in Zeist.

Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey has also withdrawn, but no replacement has been called up for him yet. The KNVB had initially announced that no replacements would be called up for Van Dijk and Brobbey.

Van den Berg played eight times for the Netherlands Under-21s between 2021 and 2023, but has never been called up to the senior squad before now.

Sepp van den Berg joins Oranje! 🇳🇱 See you tonight! 👊 https://t.co/YTngjaEOOb

— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 10, 2026

The centre-half did not play his first game this season until October 17 due to a groin injury, but has started every game since his return. Brentford currently sit eighth in the Premier League.

The Netherlands face Greece on Friday, November 13, and Germany on Monday, November 16, in their final two games of the UEFA Nations League group phase. The Dutch lead Group A2 on goal difference.