The Netherlands entered Euro 2024 with high hopes and a strong start, having secured a 2-1 victory against Poland in their Group D opener. However, the team faced this crucial stage without one of their key players, Frenkie de Jong, whose absence has been a significant talking point.
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| Frenkie de Jong's Injury Woes Before Euro 2024: What Happened to the Netherlands Star? |
Frenkie de Jong: A Key Player Missing
Frenkie de Jong has been an integral part of the Netherlands national team since making his debut in September 2018. The 27-year-old Barcelona midfielder has earned 54 international caps, becoming a mainstay in the squad and playing a crucial role in the team's recent successes. His absence in Euro 2024 is a significant blow for Ronald Koeman's side.
What Happened to Frenkie de Jong?
De Jong's 2023/24 season was marred by injuries, limiting him to just 20 appearances in LaLiga with Barcelona. His injury troubles culminated in a severe setback during Barcelona's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on April 21, where he suffered his third ankle injury of the season. This injury has kept him out of competitive action since.
Despite his determination to join the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024, de Jong had to leave the team after a 4-0 warmup win over Iceland. Ronald Koeman explained, "He won't be fit enough to play at this level for the next three weeks. There's no point keeping him with us." The Dutch FA (KNVB) further clarified that tests showed de Jong's ankle was not sufficiently resilient.
Impact on the Netherlands Squad
De Jong's absence is compounded by other injuries within the squad. Maarten de Roon suffered a muscle injury in Atalanta's 1-0 Coppa Italia defeat to Juventus, which also caused him to miss their Europa League triumph over Bayer Leverkusen. De Roon did not recover in time for Euro 2024. Additionally, Teun Koopmeiners, another Atalanta midfielder, sustained a groin injury during the warmup before the Iceland friendly, ruling him out of the tournament.
Who Has Replaced Frenkie de Jong?
AC Milan midfielder Tijani Reinjnders has stepped in to fill the void left by de Jong. Reinjnders, a 25-year-old playmaker, has impressed since taking over, notably playing a crucial role in Wout Weghorst’s winning goal against Poland. Ahead of the match against France, Reinjnders expressed confidence and readiness to handle the pressure of filling de Jong’s shoes on such a significant stage.
Conclusion
Frenkie de Jong's absence from Euro 2024 due to persistent ankle injuries is a major setback for the Netherlands. His influence and skill have been vital to the team's performance over the years. However, with players like Tijani Reinjnders stepping up, the Oranje are showing resilience and adaptability as they aim for success in the tournament. As the competition progresses, the Netherlands will need to rely on their depth and tactical flexibility to compensate for the loss of their star midfielder.