Frenkie de Jong will not travel to Berlin for the Netherlands' Nations League match against Germany. The Netherlands said he is suffering from minor physical discomfort, and the decision was made as a precaution before Monday's 20.45 kick-off on ARD.
De Jong's withdrawal
The update comes after Frenkie de Jong captained Oranje in the 7-0 win over Greece on Friday evening. He started that game and played 45 minutes before being withdrawn, so this is not a case of a player being left out after a long spell on the sidelines.
The Netherlands said there was too little time before Monday's match to take a chance on him. That keeps the focus on the immediate issue, not on any longer medical readout, because no recovery timeline has been given.
What the Berlin trip looks like without him
The absence is a blow in terms of control in midfield, but the Netherlands can still go into Germany vs Netherlands from a strong position. They lead UEFA Nations League Group A 1 with 11 points, while Germany are third on 8.
De Jong has also featured in five recent club and international matches, so the withdrawal arrives after a short run of involvement rather than after a prolonged break. The Netherlands will still be expected to manage the game without him, and Monday's fixture is the one to watch.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
