European ball
AMSTERDAM – Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman chose to call up Donel Mallen and Joel Firman to the national team squad today, Tuesday, after he was hit by the absence of midfielder Frenkie de Jong from the first two rounds of European Championship qualifiers.
De Jong left the squad on Monday after suffering an injury while playing with Barcelona against Real Madrid in a La Liga summit match on Sunday evening.
Eindhoven player Ferman joined the squad to replace De Jong, while Koeman Malin chose Borussia Dortmund striker after Steven Bergwijn left the squad due to his knee injury.
The Netherlands begins its qualifying campaign on Friday, hosting France in Paris, and then plays at home with Gibraltar in Rotterdam on Monday.
Koeman told reporters that De Jong’s absence is a big blow.
He added, “Frenky has great potential that many players do not have, but his absence does not mean that we will suddenly change our style.”
