IAN MAATSEN cut his holiday short to be at Euro 2024 but has been dumped out without playing a minute.
The left-back, who joined Aston Villa from Chelsea for £37.5million this month, received a late call-up to the Netherlands squad.
Having made Ronald Koeman’s provisional group, he was cut before the tournament.
But an injury to Teun Koopmeiners opened the door for Maatsen, 22, to return.
He was on holiday with his girlfriend Emely Tuinder in Mykonos when the news came.
Maatsen, who was pictured chilling on a £500,000 yacht, headed straight for Germany to link up with his team-mates.
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And his proud dad, Edward, even drove SIX HOURS from his home in Vlaardingen to their Euros camp to drop off Maatsen’s boots and personal items.
Edward said: “Ian first wanted to come first to the Netherlands, but that didn’t seem like a good idea to us.
“We know that as a family member you are always involved, this European Championship is the icing on the cake.
“As a parent you are very proud and do everything you can to keep it on track and to keep everything around it as stable as possible.”
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Although he eventually made Hollands’ Euros squad, Maatsen is still yet to earn his first cap for his country.
Maatsen has never played for his country and will have to wait after England beat the Dutch 2-1.
The defender watched new club team-mate Ollie Watkins score a late winner to send the Three Lions into Sunday’s final.
Villans Watkins and Ezri Konsa will hope to be involved in the showpiece.
Maatsen may well whisk Tuinder away for another break before he joins up with his new club for pre-season training.
England vs Spain record
England have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…
- May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)
- December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)
- May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)
- November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)
- May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)
- May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)
- March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)
- June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)
- March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)
- July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)
- February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)
- September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)
- February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)
- February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)
- November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)
- November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)
- September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)
- October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)
Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
