Frenkie de Jong ruled out of Netherlands’ Nations League meeting with Germany

Frenkie de Jong will miss the Netherlands’ final Nations League group-stage match against Germany on Monday after reporting minor physical complaints following the victory over Greece.

The 29-year-old Barcelona midfielder has been left out of the squad by Netherlands head coach Xavi Hernandez as a precaution, with the coaching staff opting not to take any unnecessary risks over his fitness.

“Frenkie de Jong is suffering from some minor physical complaints and will miss the next away match against Germany,” the official Netherlands account said on X.

It added: “As a precaution, the coaching staff decided that the player would not travel to Berlin because Monday’s match comes too early for the midfielder’s recovery period.”

The Netherlands will not call up a replacement, leaving a squad of 23 players for the game at Olympiastadion Berlin on Monday, 16 November 2026.

The fixture is the Netherlands’ final match in the Nations League group stage. They lead the group with 11 points, while Germany and Greece have eight each. Serbia are bottom without a point.

A draw would be enough for the Netherlands to finish top and secure qualification for the quarter-finals, which are scheduled to take place in March next year.

De Jong’s gradual return

De Jong is currently working his way back to full fitness after a difficult period affected by a long-term injury, which disrupted his availability for both Barcelona and the Netherlands.

He suffered a knee injury during the 2026 World Cup and missed a number of important fixtures before beginning his gradual return to action with Barcelona in late October.

His comeback has required careful management. De Jong needed time to regain his match rhythm after the lengthy absence, while Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has taken a cautious approach to his workload to avoid placing additional demands on him before he reaches full fitness.

The midfielder remains an important part of Barcelona’s plans because of his ability to control the tempo, retain possession under pressure and help build attacks from deep. His tactical flexibility also allows him to perform more than one role in midfield.

De Jong’s latest absence is therefore another setback as he attempts to re-establish himself at club and international level and return to his best physical and technical form.