Key Dutch players Virgil van Dijk and Frenkie de Jong have both withdrawn from the Netherlands squad ahead of Tuesday night’s UEFA Nations League match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman confirmed the absence in his press conference, citing the welfare of the player’s health.
“For both Frenkie and Virgil, it is better now to leave training camp. It’s a decision based on medical grounds, putting the interest of the player first,” he said.
Both players featured in the Netherlands dominant 4-0 win over Hungary, where van Dijk played opposite his Liverpool teammate Dominik Szoboszlai. The center-back put in an incredible defensive shift and received much praise for his performance. de Jong also featured in the match and made penetrating passes from midfield before being substituted in the 68th minute.
Van Dijk has played every minute of Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League campaigns so far this season. The new-look Champions League format introduces even more matches to be played in the group stage, meaning that the risk of injury increases during international games.
The Netherlands are currently second in their Nations League Group A, which also features Germany, Hungary, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina are last in the group and are all but eliminated, while the Netherlands have assured their advancement into the next round. The match-up is a dead rubber, meaning little reason to risk key assets. Germany is confirmed as the group winners with 13 points, five more than second-place Netherlands.
For de Jong, the decision to send him back to his club follows his recent return from a five-month ankle ligament injury. His start vs. Hungary was his first national team appearance in 13 months, and the midfielder put in a solid performance. He has made 6 appearances for Barcelona so far this season.
