Robin van Persie have both been dropped from the Netherlands squad for an upcoming friendly against Wales.

 

Memphis Depay and Robin van Persie have both been dropped from the Netherlands squad for an upcoming friendly against Wales.

Memphis, 21, has been left out of the first squad Danny Blind has named since the country's failure to qualify for Euro 2016 - with the coach citing a lack of team ethic.

Blind explained: "In football you must function in a team. He doesn't always do that."

Manchester United's summer signing was also censured by Blind for his failure to speak to the media as Netherlands lost to Czech Republic and saw their hopes of reaching Euro 2016 die last month. 

"He should have talked about that with us," Blind said. "I think Depay is a player for the future, but there are other issues to look at. Perhaps Louis van Gaal has also said something." 

Van Persie, who captained Netherlands to third place in the 2014 World Cup, has also been excluded.

He has struggled for form at Fenerbahce after leaving United in the summer and scored an own goal in the defeat to Czech Republic.

Van Persie is his country's all-time top goalscorer with 50 goals but Blind says he needs more game-time in Turkey if he is to earn a place in the Dutch squad. 

"It is not a good sign when a player of that calibre does not play all the matches," said Blind. "When you're a top footballer, you have to play multiple times 90 minutes. Otherwise, you're not very fit. And I think he did not play well.

"We are entering a new era, because we have not qualified for the European Championships. I want to see new players in that position. I have to look to the future.

"It's definitely not good. I have held talks here with him. He is potentially still the best striker in Holland. Oranje benefits from experienced players. I hope wholeheartedly that he is fit in March.

"I have also discussed it with Van Persie. He must do more."

Netherlands squad in full:

Vurnon Anita, Daley Blind, Jeffrey Bruma, Jasper Cillessen, Jordy Clasie, Virgil van Dijk, Bas Dost, Eljero Elia, Anwar El Ghazi, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Daryl Janmaat, Luuk de Jong, Davy Klaassen, Terence Kongolo, Quincy Promes, Karim Rekik, Jairo Riedewald, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Maarten Stekelenburg, Kenny Tete, Marko Vejinovic, Joël Veltman, Kenneth Vermeer, Georginio Wijnaldum en Jeroen Zoet.

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