Netherlands have been dealt with a major blow ahead of EURO 2024 with midfielder Frenkie de Jong set to miss the tournament due to an ankle injury. The Barcelona star, crucial for the national team, was absent from the squad that triumphed 4-0 over Iceland recently. De Jong, who has 54 caps and two goals for the Netherlands, had been battling the injury, which limited him to just 45 minutes of play in the final two months of the La Liga season.
Why was Frenkie de Jong sidelined?
De Jong’s troubles began in March when he was substituted in the first half against Athletic Bilbao and then again in his return match against Real Madrid in April. Despite being named in the EURO 2024 squad, his lack of game time for both club and country since then means the Netherlands must proceed without him.
Who can replace De Jong?g
This absence presents a massive challenge for coach Ronald Koeman, as De Jong was the only member of the midfield trio with extensive international experience. To fill the gap, Koeman will likely turn to PSV Eindhoven stars Jerdy Schouten and Joey Veerman. Schouten was already expected to partner with De Jong, but now Veerman, in career-best form, steps up after a stellar performance in the warm-up match against Iceland, where he assisted Xavi Simons’ opener.
Other midfield options for the Netherlands include Atalanta’s Teun Koopmeiners and former Liverpool player Gini Wijnaldum. As the team prepares to face Poland in their first group stage match, the spotlight will be on how effectively these replacements can perform in De Jong’s stead and maintain the team’s momentum.
