World Cup 2022: Virgil Van Dijk, Frenkie De Jong Headline Louis van Gaal’s Netherlands Squad

• Netherlands Head Coach Louis van Gaal has announced his official squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar
• Virgil Van Dijk, Frenkie De Jong and Memphis Depay are some of the star attractions for the three-time finalists
• Manchester United's Donny van de Beek and Bayern Munich Ryan Gravenberch are some of the notable omissions

Louis van Gaal has officially unveiled his Netherlands squad that will be participating in the FIFA World Cup.

The Netherlands are outside frontrunners for the title and will be looking to go one better than 1974, 1978 and 2010, when they reached the finals.

They are making a comeback after missing out on the 2018 edition. Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk is expected to captain the side.

Barcelona's Memphis Depay has been included despite having a thigh injury since September. He is the main source of goals in the side and will be joined by PSV duo Cody Gakpo and Xavi Simmons.

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38-year goalkeeper Remko Pasveer is also in the squad, in favour of long-time number-one Jasper Cillesen.

The Netherlands' full squad

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Andries Noppert (Heerenveen), Remko Pasveer (Ajax)

Defenders: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Ajax), Jurrien Timber (Ajax), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Tyrell Malacia (Manchester United), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Steven Berghuis (Ajax), Davy Klaassen (Ajax), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta BC), Marten de Roon (Atalanta BC), Kenneth Taylor (Ajax), Xavi Simons (PSV Eindhoven)

Attackers: Cody Gakpo (PSV Eindhoven), Memphis Depay (Barcelona), Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Vincent Janssen (Antwerp), Luuk de Jong (PSV Eindhoven), Noa Lang (Club Brugge), Wout Weghorst (Besiktas)

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Sports Brief has also reported that Sadio Mane is now facing a race against time to be fit for the World Cup, after Senegal head coach Aliou Cisse included him in his final 26-man shortlist.

Previous reports had initially ruled out Mane entirely, after he picked up a tendon injury during Bayern Munich's game against Werder Bremen.

Cisse has also called up his reliable old guard in Chelsea's duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy, Everton's Idrissa Gana Gueye, and Watford's Ismailia Sarr.