Frenkie de Jong Shares Sense of ‘Return’ Following Nations League Stalemate with Spain

Frenkie de Jong from the Netherlands expressed his delight at rejoining the national team, speaking to Dutch television following the draw with Spain in the UEFA Nations League.

Having missed last year’s EURO competition due to injury and recovery, De Jong participated in only one of the Netherlands’ six Nations League group matches. His 73 minutes on the pitch against Spain marked his longest appearance for the national team since the 2023 UEFA Nations League finals.

“I feel like I’m back – I’ve felt that way for a little while now,” De Jong told NOS. The midfielder was uncertain before Thursday’s match after being sidelined from last weekend’s La Liga fixture against Atletico Madrid due to illness.

“I do need to regain some fitness, as I felt quite fatigued at one point. I was surprised at how quickly that came about. Perhaps it’s just a one-off because my condition at Barcelona isn’t too bad. It might relate to my bout of illness.”

In the end, the Netherlands and Spain played out a 2-2 draw, with Mikel Merino scoring a crucial equaliser in injury time. Spain took the lead after Ajax defender Jorrel Hato carelessly lost possession to Lamine Yamal.

Despite the setback, De Jong praised his young teammate, stating that Hato performed well overall, managing to keep Yamal from making any successful dribbles. “Mistakes happen, but I believe Hato put in an excellent performance. It was impressive to see his composure after the first goal, and he played quite well,” remarked De Jong.

“Everyone makes mistakes, and it’s important to keep pushing on. Show bravery and play with confidence. Hato has done just that, which is commendable for someone so young.”