Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong have withdrawn from the Netherlands squad due to medical concerns ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday.
The announcement came shortly after both players played significant roles in the Netherlands’ commanding 4-0 victory over Hungary on Saturday, which sealed their progression to the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Van Dijk, who led his team on Saturday night, and De Jong, who started in the Amsterdam fixture but was substituted in the 68th minute for Teun Koopmeiners, were both deemed unfit to continue with the squad.
The Dutch football association confirmed their absence on Monday morning, with national team manager Ronald Koeman prioritizing their health.
“For both Frenkie and Virgil, it is better for them to leave the training camp at this moment,” Koeman stated. “That decision was taken on medical grounds, with of course the interest of the players coming first.”
The Netherlands’ next game in Zenica against Bosnia and Herzegovina holds little significance for either team.
Group A3’s standings are already locked, with Germany topping the group and advancing to the competition’s expanded knockout stage alongside the second-placed Netherlands.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, meanwhile, have been relegated to League B.
Van Dijk’s withdrawal comes after an intense period for the 33-year-old defender, who has been central to Liverpool’s campaign this season.
Despite receiving a red card in a 1-1 draw with Hungary in October, which ruled him out of the Netherlands’ narrow 1-0 defeat to Germany, Van Dijk has shown remarkable consistency at the club level.
Dutch outlet De Telegraaf speculates his omission is linked to Liverpool’s packed schedule, with manager Arne Slot’s side facing an arduous run of 11 matches in just 35 days leading up to the new year.
On the other hand, De Jong’s absence is more straightforward but equally significant. The 27-year-old midfielder recently returned to action for the Netherlands after a prolonged six-month layoff due to a serious ankle injury sustained at Barcelona.
The injury was so severe that De Jong once feared it might end his career prematurely. Although he has re-established himself in Barcelona’s lineup in recent weeks, De Jong continues to take additional precautions to protect his ankle before matches.
The decision to sideline De Jong for the inconsequential fixture against Bosnia and Herzegovina appears aimed at preserving his fitness. His steady recovery has been a relief for Barcelona fans, and his availability remains crucial for both his club and country.
With both Van Dijk and De Jong absent, the Dutch squad will have to rely on other key players to navigate their final Nations League group game, though the stakes have already been decided.
