Frenkie de Jong offered a lift for the Netherlands forward of this summer time’s European Championship after returning to first staff coaching, coach Ronald Koeman mentioned on Sunday.
The 27-year-old has struggled with ankle accidents this season and hasn’t performed a match since April.
De Jong endured three separate ankle accidents in 2023-24, occurring in September, March, and April. His most up-to-date difficulty occurred throughout a match for Barcelona towards rivals Actual Madrid, forcing him to depart the sector on a stretcher.
The midfielder had beforehand recommended that it was unsure whether or not he’d be slot in time for the Euros, however he joined the remainder of the squad on the pitch for the primary time after every week of particular person coaching.
“He was a part of the coaching however we saved him away from any contact,” Koeman mentioned.
“It’s doable that Frenkie is not going to make it to the primary match. However we are able to wait till the second or third recreation. That’s a risk. Even when he can’t play the primary two video games, we’ll stick to him. But when it appears to be like as if he’ll miss the whole group stage, I may need to rethink his choice.”
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Koeman is making ready his facet for his or her last warm-up pleasant earlier than the Euros towards Iceland on Monday.
The Netherlands have been positioned in Group D and play Poland of their first recreation on the Germany match on June 16.
“A lot of the gamers had some relaxation in direction of the top of the season and got here in recent,” Koeman mentioned on his squad.
“There have been additionally gamers who weren’t but prepared for a full 90 minutes, however we had been capable of prepare effectively.”
Alongside Poland, the Netherlands will face France on June 21 and Austria on June 25 within the group stage.
(ANP through Getty Photos)
