Netherlands have been forced to send home five players ahead of Friday's Euro 2024 qualifier away against France after being struck by a flu virus.

Cody Gakpo, Matthijs de Ligt, Sven Botman, Joey Veerman and Bart Verbruggen have all pulled out due to illness, while Frenkie de Jong and Steven Bergwijn are also sidelined due to injury.

Donyell Malen, Stefan de Vrij, Ryan Gravenberch and Kjell Scherpen have since been called up as replacements by new head coach Ronald Koeman, who has returned to manage the Oranje following the departure of Louis van Gaal.

After regularly using a three-at-the-back system under Van Gaal, Koeman is expected to deploy a four-man defence, which will likely De Vrij and Jurrien Timber compete for a start at centre-back alongside captain Virgil van Dijk.

Daley Blind is in line to make his 100th international appearance at left-back, although Nathan Ake will be pushing to start following an impressive run of form with Manchester City, while Denzel Dumfries and Jasper Cillessen are expected to begin at right-back and in goal respectively.

In the absence of Frenkie de Jong, Roma's Georginio Wijnaldum could be handed his first international appearance for nearly a year after missing the World Cup through injury, while Marten de Roon and Steven Berghuis are also strong candidates to start.

Luuk de Jong announced his international retirement at the end of last month, so a front three of Malen, Memphis Depay and Wout Weghorst could line up in attack, with uncapped Brian Brobbey an option who could make an impact off the substitutes' bench.

Netherlands possible starting lineup: Cillessen; Dumfries, Timber, Van Dijk, Ake; Wijnaldum, De Roon, Berghuis; Malen, Weghorst, Depay

> Click here to see how France could line up for this contest

Written by
Oliver Thomas