Van Gaal leaves Newcastle star out of World Cup squad, but calls up ex-Spurs man

Former Tottenham forward Vincent Janssen has received a call-up, though, after earning a return to the national team set-up this year.

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Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk has been given the nod, whilst PSV's Xavi Simons was also selected after impressing in the Eredivisie.

Simons has been preferred to Manchester United midfielder Van de Beek, who has been struggling with injuries and game time at Old Trafford this season.

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Janssen has also been given a call-up. The Antwerp star earned his first cap for his country back in 2016 and scored his first international goal against England in a friendly.

He then went on to fell out of favour in the Dutch team and didn't make the cut for the Euros last year.

This season, though, the 28-year-old has been in form for his club, scoring eight goals in 22 games this season - earning him a spot on the plane to Qatar.

Meanwhile, Van Gaal has opted to leave out in-form Newcastle centre-back Sven Botman and Bayern Munich starlet Ryan Gravenberch, 20.

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Despite being a rock at the back in an impressive Premier League campaign for the Magpies, Botman won't be joining his club teammates and England stars Kieran Trippier, Nick Pope and Callum Wilson in Qatar.

Gravenberch will also be staying at home, despite the midfielder having 11 international senior caps to his name and impressing in the Bundesliga.

When asked about some of the surprise omissions from his World Cup squad, Van Gaal gave a rather… interesting response.

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"I called the players who I didn't include from 8:30 until 10:00am," he said.

"I saw players naked, still laying in bed this morning while I had to call them."

The Netherlands being their World Cup campaign against AFCON champions Senegal in Group A on Monday 21 November.