Frenkie de Jong missed the Nations League match between the Netherlands and Germany in Berlin due to light physical complaints,NOS reported.
The Dutch midfielder left the national team squad as a precaution following a 7-0 win against Greece, where he was substituted at half-time with back pain,NOS reported. While De Jong initially said that the upcoming fixture was not in danger, head coach Xavi Hernández confirmed that the player would not feature, VOETBALZONE reported.
“Hij is geblesseerd. Het is heel klein blessure, maar hij kan morgen niet spelen. Daarom hebben we besloten hem uit de selectie te halen,” said Xavi Hernández, national team coach.
Xavi emphasized that the decision to release De Jong was mutual and coordinated with the player and his club. “We hebben dat samen besloten, zoals altijd. Hij vertelde me dat hij niet kan spelen en dat is het,” the coach told VOETBALZONE.
The discussion also involved the medical staff at FC Barcelona. “De dokter van Barcelona is een goede vriend van mij. Hij is een van mijn beste vrienden in het voetbal,” Xavi added to VOETBALZONE, dismissing concerns over friction between the club and the national team.
“Het is gewoon een kwestie van communicatie. Jullie maken je te veel zorgen om de situatie van Frenkie. Er is geen probleem. Er is geen probleem.”
Despite the physical setback, the coaching staff opted against calling up a replacement, leaving a squad of 23 players available for the fixture in Berlin,NOS reported. The match is scheduled for 20:45 local time, with the Netherlands currently leading their group ahead of Greece, Germany, and Serbia in the battle for quarter-final qualification, according to NOS.
Following his debut on September 6, 2018, against Peru, the midfielder missed only 3 of his first 52 international appearances, representing an absence rate of 5.8 percent,Voetbal International reported.
In his subsequent 50 international call-up windows, De Jong has missed 29 matches, raising his absence rate to 58 percent and forcing him to sit out major tournaments such as Euro 2024,Voetbal International reported.
The midfielder’s departure from the Oranje camp drew immediate attention from sports media in Spain. Diario SPORT described the situation as “slecht nieuws voor FC Barcelona” and reported that the player would return to Catalonia to report directly to the club’s medical staff,VoetbalPrimeur reported.
Mundo Deportivo indicated that De Jong should theoretically be fit in time for Barcelona’s fixture against Villarreal, scheduled for Sunday, November 22,VoetbalPrimeur reported. Meanwhile, Marca said that the player’s physical management remains a sensitive topic given that he previously featured for the national team while carrying an injury during the World Cup, an issue that sidelined him for four months upon his return to club duties,VoetbalPrimeur reported.
AS reported that the latest physical discomfort caused “alarmbellen” to ring in Madrid regarding the player’s long-term fitness,VoetbalPrimeur reported.
Xavi said that the remaining 23 members of the squad are fully fit and available for the match against Germany. “We hebben 23 spelers in de selectie. Iedereen is beschikbaar,” he told VOETBALZONE.
The coach refrained from disclosing potential tactical adjustments or his starting lineup ahead of the encounter. “Dat zullen we morgen zien. Het idee blijft hetzelfde: we willen competitief zijn. Het wordt een grote uitdaging en een goede, zware test in Duitsland,” said Xavi.
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