Clément Pédron, Media365, published on Saturday November 16, 2024 at 11:35 a.m.
After more than a year marked by several ankle problems, Frenkie De Jong is finally back with the Netherlands and could play a few minutes against Hungary on the 5th day of the Nations League. The Batavian is in any case motivated even if he still remains fragile.
Dutch fans will perhaps be scrutinizing more than usual the pre-match of this Saturday evening's match counting for the 5th day of the Nations League between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. With only one objective, to see if Frenkie De Jong participates in the warm-up or not and if so, with what intensity, which will give a clue to his form. The FC Barcelona midfielder is indeed eagerly awaited by his fans and more. As a preamble to this gathering, Ronald Koeman, the Batavian coach, said, speaking of the former Amsterdam player: “If he is fit, he will play. It’s very important to us.” The ex-FCB technician breaks an open door with this declaration but he also knows to what extent his player raises a lot of expectations but also questions and this lot will have to be managed with great caution. The person concerned is obviously delighted to be back in the selection, a sign of a return to “normal” and you only have to listen to see it: “I’m really happy to 'be back. When you're injured you always have tough times, and it's been a long process. I sometimes had a hard time getting through it. »
A premature exit during the last match with Barça
We will only know this Saturday evening if Frenkie De Jong is indeed fit for the very high level. And we will know even more if he continues against Bosnia-Herzegovina on November 19. But his mere presence here with the Batavian selection is already enough for his happiness even if it was almost called into question. Indeed during FC Barcelona's last match, the midfielder had to be replaced a minute after the start of the second half, following two blows to the shin and ankle. And his face filled with tears in the locker room afterwards was anything but reassuring as the player has barely played again since October with his club. Finally present in Koeman's list, Frenkie De Jong is still moving forward slowly. By his own admission, the specter of a new ankle injury is handicapping him. “The ankle is fine,” he admitted to Telegraaf. It's getting better and it's not a problem to play. But it's not like before, even if it's getting better. […] My mind is becoming freer and freer but I still think about it.” Last April, the midfielder had to call it quits after his third ankle injury of the season. A new setback with more difficult consequences since he missed Euro 2024 in Germany. After a year consumed by evil, the former Ajax star hopes to put this story definitively behind him to start a new one, worthy of his talent.
