Frenkie de Jong's departure between the halves of the Netherlands' match against Greece, despite the resounding 7-0 win in the UEFA Nations League, raised some concerns among Barcelona's fans.
Xavi Hernandez, the head coach of the Netherlands national team, had confirmed that De Jong was suffering from a back problem. The Dutch player offered his own clarification, though, ruling out any cause for concern. There was no need for the coaching staff to risk keeping him on the pitch, De Jong explained, once the Netherlands had sealed the first half with a clean five-goal lead, especially given his recent return from a long absence with a knee injury.
The Barcelona player told Dutch radio NOS: "The score was 5-0 at the end of the first half, and I had only just come back from injury, so the decision was appropriate and there was no problem with it."
He explained why he had no wish to take on any extra risk: "I have only just come back from injury, and I have not yet regained much match readiness, especially with all the travel and the international matches, in addition to my history with injuries, there was no need to take any risk."
The 29-year-old was pleased with his country's collective display. Good positioning drove the big superiority over Greece, he pointed out, alongside attacking efficiency and the ruthless taking of chances, the opener arriving early.
De Jong gave his verdict on the match: "I think we simply managed to do things the right way when it came to our positioning on the pitch, and of course we also took advantage of the chances we created, and we scored the first goal straight away, and that always helps. Things went well in footballing terms, and the performance was very enjoyable."
A positive step on the Netherlands' journey, the midfielder reckoned, but one that demanded more. He refused to treat a single good night as proof of the required level. "It is a good step, and everything looked great tonight, and now we simply have to keep moving forward," he said.
The Netherlands' identity
De Jong spoke about the identity his side is trying to build: "Our vision is clear, we want to attack, build play from the back, press hard in advanced areas of the pitch, and impose our control on matches," a nod to the principles the team is working to develop.
Plenty of road still lies ahead, the Barcelona player stressed in conclusion, and one big win is not enough to judge how far the national team has come, especially with the World Cup as his last real test. "We are now in a phase of continuous improvement, until we reach the level that allows us, and we hope that happens within two years, to compete for the title," he added.
journalism and writing are a passion before they are a profession. Since taking my first steps down this path in late 2010, I have been weaving my stories across the pages of Egyptian and Arab websites. I don’t view sports in general—and soccer in particular—as merely a game, but rather as a canvas of life that reflects the pulse of societies and carries within it social and cultural stories that intertwine with the threads of politics to shape people’s consciousness.
I delve into covering and analyzing soccer from multiple angles: I cover the game from multiple angles where storytelling meets analysis, and where the pitch connects to broader social and cultural narratives.
Over time and as my experience grew, my passion expanded to draw connections between the economics of the game, modern technology, and cryptocurrencies—all of which have become part of a soccer industry that extends far beyond the boundaries of the field.
My experience has spanned several prominent Arab outlets: in Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, such as Goal (Saudi edition) and Koora, where I have worked as a multi-tasking desk editor since 2019."I don't just cover stories, I find them where others aren't looking, then reshape them until they're worth reading.
with analytical depth and a human touch to deliver an unforgettable story to the reader.
My Story with Soccer
My passion for soccer began early, specifically at the age of six during the 1994 World Cup. The atmosphere at home was different; the whole family was awake to watch the matches even though they were broadcast at dawn, and that is where my true passion was born. I was captivated by Romário’s mesmerizing skills, amazed by Thomas Brulin, and impressed by the physical and technical prowess of the Nigerian national team led by the late Rashidi Yakini, while the image of Roberto Baggio missing his penalty kick in the final remains etched in my memory as the first dramatic moment I experienced with the game.
As the years passed and my fascination with international soccer grew, certain matches remained defining moments in my football education, such as the 2001 UEFA Cup final between Liverpool and Spain’s Alavés—that wild 5-4 clash whose intensity didn’t subside until the 117th minute, when an own goal sealed the title for the Reds, cementing it in my memory as an unforgettable match.
My Best Soccer Memories
Unforgettable moments include Real Madrid’s 2002 Champions League victory, Liverpool’s historic 2005 final, and Egypt’s 2006, 2008, and 2010 African Cup of Nations triumphs under Hassan Shehata.
My All-Time Team
Buffon
Cafu - Paolo Maldini - Ramos - Roberto Carlos
Zinedine Zidane - Iniesta
Diego Maradona
Lionel Messi - Ronaldo “The Phenomenon” - Cristiano Ronaldo
My Favorite Articles:
The Ronaldo Mystery... Death in a Foreign Land!
Third dimension.. Barefoot... Has Messi Really Settled
The Debate Over the Greatest of All Time?
(2) Messi Chases Pelé... Has the Debate Over the Greatest of All Time Really Been Settled?
Third dimension: The Terrifying Test... Salah Inherits the Crown of the Seven Years
The Fortune of Cryptocurrencies... Messi Alone Among America’s Stars
The Champions’ Disaster and Barcelona’s Betrayal... How Will
Blockchain Technology Solve the Great Crisis?
The story of crypto levers... Is
Laporta gambling with Barcelona’s future?
Liverpool’s secret and the Bundesliga’s passion... Technological innovation revitalizes the future of soccer!
Chaos in the land of samba... Will Ancelotti escape the vortex of pressure?
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