The Netherlands rely on Nimir in final push for Paris 2024

The Netherlands have selected the players that will try to qualify the country’s men’s national team for the Olympics for the first time in 20 years during this year’s Volleyball Nations League.

Italian head coach Roberto Piazza has picked 30 players to form the Dutch squad during his sixth season ahead of the team, with training activities set to begin at the start of May.

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Piazza will maintain basically the same squad of the last few seasons as all 14 players that took part at last year’s Volleyball Olympic Qualifier are back, as well as 29 of the 30 athletes initially selected to compete at the VNL 2023. The only absence is opposite Stijn Van Tilburg, who is injured and will be replaced by 25-year-old Michael Ahyi, who gets his first call-up since 2021.

The top scorer of the VNL in 2021 and 2022, 32-year-old opposite Nimir Abdel-Aziz once again highlights the Dutch selection. The veteran scoring machine will be pivotal for the team's aspirations in 2024.

Middle blocker Fabian Plak, outside hitter Thijs ter Horst, setter Wessel Keemink and libero Robbert Andringa are other key pieces in the squad led by Piazza.

Looking to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since Athens 2024, the Dutch will need to get good results in the VNL Preliminary Phase in order to secure a spot at the Paris Games in three months.

The Netherlands are currently in 13^th place in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Rankings and have five teams that are yet to qualify for Paris 2024 ahead of them. To qualify, the Europeans will need to pass at least two of them.

The Dutch will be in Antalya, Türkiye, in the opening week of the VNL, from May 21-26, when they will face Slovenia, the hosts, Poland and Bulgaria. Before their VNL debut, they will meet Japan in an exhibition match in Rotterdam on May 12.

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The Netherlands men’s national team full roster (subject to eligibility check to be conducted by the FIVB):

Setters: Freek de Weijer, Gijs van Solkema, Joris Berkhout, Markus Held, Sil Meijs, Wessel Keemink
Opposites: Daan Streutker, Martin Brilhuis, Michael Ahyi, Nimir Abdel-Aziz, Wouter ter Maat
Outside hitters: Bennie Tuinstra, Gijs Jorna, Jasper Wijkstra, Marteen van Garderen, Thijs ter Horst, Thomas van Bladel, Tom Koops, Yannick Bak
Middle blockers: Beau Wortelboer, Fabian Plak, Luuc van der Ent, Luuk Hofhuis, Michaël Parkinson, Robin Boekhoudt, Siebe Korenblek, Twan Wiltenburg
Liberos: Jeffrey Klok, Mats Bleeker, Niels Lipke, Robbert Andringa

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