Sport · Singapore Bureau
Netherlands lose Van Dijk and Brobbey for upcoming Nations League fixtures
Dutch football captain Virgil van Dijk and striker Brian Brobbey have withdrawn from the Netherlands squad for their final two Nations League group matches. The Dutch football association confirmed the absences on Monday.
LSN Singapore ·
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) announced on Monday that the two key players will sit out the Netherlands' remaining group-stage fixtures in the UEFA Nations League over the coming week.
Van Dijk, who captains the national side, and Ajax striker Brobbey have both decided to withdraw from the squad, the KNVB said. The specific reasons for their departures were not immediately disclosed.
The absences represent a significant blow to Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman's plans for the final stretch of the Nations League group phase. Van Dijk, the Liverpool defender and long-standing linchpin of the Dutch defense, has been a mainstay in the international setup. Brobbey has featured prominently in recent squad selections.
The KNVB did not indicate whether replacement players would be called up to complete the squad for the remaining matches. The Netherlands will seek to secure their group objectives despite the personnel changes heading into the final games.