Derksen declares Memphis Depay's Oranje career over after WK 2026 criticism

Johan Derksen has publicly ended Memphis Depay’s international career with Oranje. The former Oranje striker no longer meets the required level, who delivered his verdict during the Groeten uit Grolloo podcast while discussing Oranje’s performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Derksen’s criticism extended beyond Depay’s recent form. He questioned the player’s status as a star, stating that his reputation is based solely on past achievements rather than current performances. "His body language still suggests he sees himself as a star, but that’s purely based on the past," Derksen said. The former Oranje international also dismissed the idea that Depay’s move to South America had enhanced his standing. "We have no overview of how often he plays or how well he performs there," he added. Derksen argued that Depay’s international career is effectively over, despite his historical status as Oranje’s all-time top scorer. "He was once a great scorer for Oranje, but that was years ago," Derksen continued. He described Depay as a "pseudoster"—a false star—whose current performances do not justify his continued selection.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst follows World Cup and Oranje

During the podcast, Derksen also referenced two substitute appearances by Depay at the 2026 World Cup as evidence of his decline. He suggested that these outings confirmed Depay’s inability to compete at international level. The remarks were made as part of a broader discussion on Oranje’s World Cup campaign, which included analysis of players such as Daryl Janmaat, Brian Brobbey and Denzel Dumfries. Derksen’s comments come amid ongoing debate about Oranje’s future direction and squad selection for upcoming qualifiers and tournaments. The podcast episode, featuring 34-time Oranje international Daryl Janmaat, is available on Spotify and the Studio Oranje platform.