Jurriën Timber’s fitness gamble leaves Oranje in doubt

Jurriën Timber, the 25‑year‑old Arsenal defender, confirmed he missed the World Cup with the Netherlands after a fitness assessment deemed him unready, despite having logged more than an hour in Arsenal’s Champions League final against Paris Saint‑Germain in a dramatic showdown.

He said the decision took several days. After arriving in America he tried to train at maximum intensity, but the effort proved impossible, forcing a difficult verdict.

Timber discussed his situation with national coach Ronald Koeman, the rest of the technical staff, his brother Quinten, and fellow players. The former Ajax player described the extensive deliberation that followed his fitness concerns.

He recalled doubts mixed with a hint of certainty, noting that reaching the Champions League final had been a surprise in itself. "It was actually a wonder that I had reached that final," he said, reflecting on his form.

The day before the friendly against Uzbekistan, Timber decided to withdraw. He explained that he could not even train at full capacity, and at that point his preparation stopped.

Preparing for later tournament matches was not an option, and he could not give that certainty to coach Koeman. He also mentioned that he had expected to return earlier in the months before the World Cup, but that plan had not materialised.