Netherlands' Timber out of World Cup with injury

Jurrien Timber has been capped 23 times by the Netherlands [Getty Images] Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber has been ruled out of the Netherlands' World Cup campaign with a groin injury and replaced by Lutsharel Geertruida. Timber had been out since the middle of March with a groin problem but featured in the second half of the Champions League final in Budapest on 30 May. The 24-year-old came on as 66th-minute substitute against Paris St-Germain - his first appearance since a 2-0 win over Everton on 14 March. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta said before the final against Paris St-Germain that Timber was "fit" to play. The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) said on Monday that Timber had "not recovered sufficiently" to take part in the tournament in a "medically responsible manner". "In consultation with the medical staff, it has therefore been decided that Timber will leave the national team's pre-camp in New York after the [friendly] game against Uzbekistan," added the KNVB. Timber has been capped 23 times by the Netherlands and made his first international appearance in June 2021. Oranje boss Ronald Koeman has called up Geertruida, 25, who spent last season on loan at Sunderland from RB Leipzig. The Netherlands face Japan in their Group F opener on 14 June before games against Sweden and Tunisia. World Cup fixtures and group standings How to watch the World Cup on the BBC Everything you need to know about the World Cup