Utterly bizarre! Frimpong begged Koeman to take Depay… then lost his own WC place

Football has delivered another one of those beautifully cruel moments that almost feel scripted.

Just two days before the Netherlands national football team manager Ronald Koeman announced his squad for the 2026 World Cup, Jeremie Frimpong publicly backed Memphis Depay to make the cut.

"I really hope he comes with us," the Bayer Leverkusen full-back said. "He's a huge part of the team and an amazing leader."

It was the kind of supportive, team-first comment that instantly resonated with Dutch supporters, especially given Depay's uncertain status heading into the tournament after an injury-hit campaign.

Alas, then football delivered the twist.

When Koeman officially revealed the Netherlands squad two days later, Memphis Depay was included.

Jeremie Frimpong was not.

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The bizarre sequence immediately exploded across social media, with many fans pointing out the brutal irony of Frimpong passionately campaigning for a teammate's inclusion - only to lose his own place in the squad instead.

And perhaps the strangest part of all is that Frimpong's omission came as a genuine surprise. The 25-year-old played a major role in Bayer Leverkusen's recent success and had been widely expected to travel to the World Cup, especially given his explosiveness in wide areas and growing importance for the national team setup.

Instead, Koeman opted for experience and tactical balance elsewhere, while Depay - one of the most influential figures of the Dutch golden generation - survived the final cut.

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