In Thursday’s thrilling 1-1 draw between the Netherlands and Poland, Barcelona fans were closely watching the performance of Frenkie de Jong, as the midfielder represented his national team.
The match was particularly significant with both Barcelona players, de Jong and Robert Lewandowski, competing against each other on opposite sides.
De Jong, who had been a key figure in the Netherlands’ midfield, was substituted in the 82nd minute by manager Ronald Koeman.
Koeman confirmed after the match that the decision to take off de Jong was precautionary.
The Barcelona captain had been feeling discomfort in his glutes, and the substitution was made to avoid further strain.
“Frenkie warned us that he felt tightness in his glutes, so we didn’t take any risks,” said Koeman, speaking to Mundo Deportivo.
Before his substitution, de Jong had a strong performance, touching the ball 49 times, completing 45 out of 47 passes, with a remarkable 96% accuracy.
Despite his solid play, the Dutch team was unable to secure a win, and the match ended in a draw.
Looking ahead, the Netherlands will face Lithuania in their next FIFA World Cup qualifier, and it remains to be seen if de Jong will be rested or feature in the upcoming game.
Meanwhile, Barcelona fans received good news as winger Lamine Yamal, who also suffered an injury scare during Spain’s victory over Bulgaria, is expected to recover from his back issue without any long-term concerns.
