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| Frenkie De Jong, hampered by a lingering ankle injury, was included in Ronald Koeman's Euro 2024 squad but has been forced to withdraw on Monday. EPA/KOEN VAN WEEL |
The Netherlands have been dealt a blow ahead of the start of the European Championships this week after Frenkie de Jong was ruled out of the tournament on Monday.
De Jong, 27, has not played since injuring his right ankle in Barcelona's 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid on April 21.
Despite that, the midfielder was named in Ronald Koeman's 26-player squad for the Euros in Germany with the expectation he would be able to feature in the finals.
However, the Netherlands confirmed in a short statement that De Jong had lost "a race against time" and would not be fit enough to play any part in the tournament.
"I'm sad and disappointed that I won't make it to the Euros," De Jong said in a post on social media.
"We've been doing a lot of work in the past few weeks, but my ankle needs more time, unfortunately.
"It's a dream and the greatest honour to represent our country in a major tournament, but now, like the entire nation, I will cheer for our team from the sidelines."
De Jong, who has 54 caps for his country, missed Barça's final six games of the season after sustaining his third ankle of the campaign in the Clásico defeat against Madrid.
Speaking after a 4-0 win over Iceland, Koeman criticised Barça's management of De Jong's injuries this season.
"They took a risk with Frenkie and now we suffer the consequences," Koeman told NOS.
De Jong will now return to Barcelona to continue his recovery work, while Koeman must decide whether he wants to call up a replacement for the former Ajax man.
The Netherlands kick off their tournament against Poland on June 16, with games against France and Austria to follow in the group stage.
- Sam Marsden, Barcelona correspondent
