De Jong to captain Netherlands against Greece
UEFA Nations League A
Frenkie de Jong will captain the Netherlands against Greece on Friday, with Xavi hailing the returning midfielder as “one of the best midfielders in the world”.
Regular captain Virgil van Dijk is sidelined through injury, while striker Brian Brobbey is also unavailable. De Jong’s return offers a boost: he has not played for the Netherlands since suffering a knee injury at the World Cup.
The midfielder was a key player for Xavi at Barcelona, winning the LaLiga title under him in 2022-23. The Spaniard now sees him as a central figure for the national team and has named Denzel Dumfries and Cody Gakpo as vice-captains.
“We decided this on Monday,” Xavi said. “Frenkie has a good personality.”
“He wants the ball and wants to get better every day. He always takes responsibility. He is one of the best midfielders in the world, if you ask me.”
Despite Van Dijk’s absence, Xavi insisted his side have enough quality to cope: “Virgil is a good leader; he is a top player. But it is no excuse for [the Greece clash]. We have many good options.”
Little separates the group
The Netherlands and Greece are level on eight points, with the Dutch ahead because they have scored more goals.
- Netherlands
- 8 pts
- Greece
- 8 pts
- Germany
- 5 pts
Germany sit third on five points and face the Netherlands in the final group game on November 16, making the result against Greece potentially crucial for Xavi’s side.
