Injured Jurrien Timber admits 'it'll be hard' to watch World Cup at home

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-jurrien/hSaoLOM4/"]Jurrien Timber[/a], 24, was forced to withdraw from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/netherlands/WYintcWb/"]the Netherlands[/a]' World Cup squad ahead of the team's final pre-tournament friendly against Uzbekistan on June 8th. The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] defender had not recovered from a groin injury in time and was replaced by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sunderland/WSzc94ws/"]Sunderland[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/geertruida-lutsharel/zwx6dFjk/"]Lutsharel Geertruida[/a].[/p][p]Timber flew from New York, where the Netherlands faced Uzbekistan, to Miami to enjoy a holiday before returning to London next week, where he will undergo further scans and begin his rehabilitation.[/p][p]In an interview with Dutch newspaper [i][b][a href="https://www.telegraaf.nl/sport/voetbal/missen-wk-2026-voor-jurrien-timber-een-klap-maar-hij-gunt-tweelingbroer-wereldtitel-meer-dan-zichzelf-nu-genieten-van-quinten/157007748.html"]De Telegraaf[/a][/b][/i], Timber spoke about the disappointment of missing the World Cup.[/p][p][b]"Of course, I’ve already played in a European Championship and a World Cup, but I never expected to miss the Euros and a World Cup due to injury. That’s just bad luck," [/b]said Timber, who also missed the 2024 Euros with a torn ACL.[/p][embed guid="1fcc24eb-d184-4a21-aa54-a8b2edb1e8c3" url="https://x.com/OnsOranje/status/2064038072455495714?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]"There’s not much you can do about an ACL injury, but it’s still a nuisance. Unfortunately, it’s part and parcel of football. It’s a risk you take when you play at the highest level. It’s a huge disappointment, because missing a European Championship or World Cup is just a massive blow. Tournaments like that don’t come around very often.”[/b][/p][p]Timber believes he'll only come back stronger from this injury, which has kept him off the pitch for most of 2026. [b]"In my mind, I’m already thinking about what’s to come. That’s why I’m taking a break right now. I think it’s good to step back for a while, rest and not have to do anything.[/b][/p][p][b]"But at the same time, I’m already looking forward to showing how good I am and taking the next step. To grow as a person, but also as a player. I’m actually really looking forward to that already. I just want to get well again as soon as possible, feel good and start playing football again.”[/b][/p][h2]Twin brother going for gold[/h2][p]Timber, a 23-time Netherlands international, will be forced to watch the tournament from home. Watching the Netherlands' games will have an extra dimension for Timber, whose twin brother, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/marseille/SblU3Hee/"]Olympique Marseille[/a] midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/timber-quinten/Ag97KtSd/"]Quinten Timber[/a], is part of the Dutch 26-man squad.[/p][image alt="Jurrien Timber gets replaced by Quinten Timber in the Netherlands' World Cup qualifier against Lithuania in November 2025" id="ae41e9d3-e1f3-4691-92ee-9044d12b1f04" credit-line="ČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Box to Box Pictures/Yannick Verhoeven" guid="06347ae8-d172-40b3-a9af-734c972c59ca" original-width="1400" original-height="933" /][p][b]"Watching the first game will be the hardest, but I’ll try to enjoy seeing my little brother there. I know how special it is to be there. I know the lads will do well. I’m really looking forward to watching the matches."[/b][/p][p]Watching Quinten win the World Cup with [i]Oranje[/i] would mean even more to Jurrien, he acknowledged: [b]"I’d rather he win it than I would win it myself. But I’m rooting for the whole team to win the world title. They’re my friends. I know those lads inside out.”[/b][/p]