Koopmeiners’ Plight: Missed Chances at Juventus and Koeman’s Omission

What`s happening to Teun Koopmeiners? This question continues to circulate among Juventus fans, a month and a half into the season, without a clear answer. After a season spent arguing that the Dutch midfielder`s main issue was adaptation or the coach, it was believed that the arrival of Igor Tudor and reduced competition in midfield would offer him a chance for redemption. However, for now, that`s not the case. Although the former Atalanta player is getting his opportunities, the latest against Villarreal lasted only forty-five minutes, with Tudor substituting him at half-time for a livelier Francisco Conceicao. Another missed chance for a player who, so far – whether starting or coming off the bench – has participated in all of Juventus`s matches in both the league and Champions League, but unfortunately without ever making an impact.

Koopmeiners might get another opportunity tomorrow evening. If Thuram is even just 80% fit, the Frenchman will start alongside Locatelli; otherwise, it will be a toss-up between the Dutchman and McKennie for a crucial match that will significantly impact the mood around Juventus during the international break. A break that `Koop` will spend working in Turin, as the Netherlands national team coach, Ronald Koeman, after leaving him on the bench against Lithuania on September 7th, has decided to omit him entirely this time. His absence from the `Oranje` squad is further proof of the negative turn Teun Koopmeiners` Juventus adventure has taken – a player who arrived in the summer of 2024 from Atalanta for over five million euros with enormous expectations, perhaps too heavy for his shoulders.

Netherlands Squad for October Matches