Emotional Marten de Roon (35) Overwhelmed by Reactions After World Cup Call-Up: 'Tears Welled Up in His Eyes'

During the bustling press day at the KNVB Campus, there's a noticeable buzz around Atalanta Bergamo's 35-year-old defensive midfielder. Marten de Roon, who hadn't been called up for the Oranje in two years, beams as he walks through the KNVB's training center. Ever since Jerdy Schouten, a regular fixture for the Dutch national team in recent years, sustained an injury, De Roon had frequently been linked with a World Cup call-up.

De Roon himself didn't miss the attention. "You hear things in the media, of course, and sometimes they even turn out to be true," De Roon says with a wink. Yet, he claims he had no contact with Koeman before the squad announcement. As a result, the World Cup call-up still came as quite a surprise to him. "It wouldn't be fair to the other lads if I were told earlier that I'd be called up for the World Cup," De Roon added.

He personally guarded against harboring too much hope for a World Cup selection. "I never allowed myself to build up hope or expectations, because it can only lead to disappointment if it doesn't happen. Then you're devastated. So, I just waited patiently." And De Roon did just that, until he received the relieving phone call from the national coach. "Since then, I've been walking around with a big smile on my face, and it hasn't faded yet."

After Koeman's call, De Roon immediately shared the good news with his family. His wife, Ricarda Killan, and their children, Linn-Sophie, Evie, and Bo, reacted enthusiastically to the surprising World Cup call-up. "They were all incredibly happy for me. The children were then a little sad, of course, because I'll be away from home for a while," De Roon explains. After a two-year absence from the Oranje, the tournament marks a special reunion with the Dutch national team for the midfielder, something his family is also greatly looking forward to.

De Roon had previously joked that he would travel to the World Cup as a supporter if he wasn't selected. However, those plans won't materialize. Not only because he's part of the squad himself, but also because his children have exams in Italy. As a result, the family cannot immediately follow him to the United States. "They're going to try to come from the third match onwards. But initially, they'll be watching everything from Italy," De Roon stated.

Besides his family's reactions, De Roon was inundated with messages from all corners. Family members, friends, and teammates from Italy: everyone was overjoyed for the midfielder. The most remarkable reaction, however, came from his brother-in-law. "We called him Wednesday morning, even before the news was known to the rest of the family. He was sitting on the couch at home and immediately started cheering. But as he reacted so happily, tears also welled up in his eyes. That made a big impression on me. When I saw how emotional he became, it touched me too. That was truly a very special moment."

The World Cup kicks off on Thursday, June 11, but the Oranje won't begin their tournament until three days later. Ronald Koeman's squad will play their first match against Japan on June 14. Group stage clashes with Sweden on June 20 and Tunisia on June 26 will follow.