Sunderland loanee Lutsharel Geertruida earns late Netherlands World Cup call-up as Jocelin Ta Bi shines | OneFootball

Sunderland’s World Cup contingent has risen to 12 after the Netherlands called up loanee Lutsharel Geertruida, with Jurriën Timber ruled out by a groin problem. The Netherlands FA said Ronald Koeman has added the Sunderland defender as Timber’s replacement.

Sunderland already had 11 players from the squad that clinched Europa League qualification set to feature this summer. Geertruida, on loan from RB Leipzig, made 30 appearances last season and, as it stands, will return to Germany rather than join pre-season on Wearside.

The Netherlands will face Japan, Sweden and Tunisia in the group stage. Timber has left their pre-camp in New York after the Uzbekistan friendly, the squad is based in Kansas and now stands at 26 players.

Winger Jocelin Ta Bi will not be in Ivory Coast’s squad for the finals, but he has impressed for the Under-21s at the Maurice Revello Tournament in France. The 21-year-old joined from Maccabi Netanya in January and lost game time to an ankle injury.

Ta Bi struck the opener in a 3-3 draw with Japan last Monday, then repeated the feat in a 3-1 win over Venezuela two days later. He missed the goalless draw with Portugal on Saturday, returned on Tuesday and scored twice in a 2-1 win against Canada.

That result secured a semi-final place. Ivory Coast will discover their opponents shortly, with Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, China and Congo in contention.

Source: Sunderland Echo