The Netherlands’ coach, Xavi, has welcomed back Frenkie de Jong and Donyell Malen into the squad ahead of crucial Nations League matches against Greece and Germany later this month.
The Dutch national team is currently leading Group A2 with eight points after four matches, having secured victories over Serbia twice, and drawn with Germany at home and Greece away.
Although they sit atop the group, their position is precarious, as they are only ahead of Greece due to a superior goal difference, while Germany trails just three points behind. As a result, all three teams are still in the race for the quarter-finals.
On Friday, Xavi announced his updated squad, highlighting the returns of De Jong—who hasn’t played for the national team since the World Cup—and Malen, who had missed the previous selection due to a minor knee injury.
De Jong suffered a knee injury during the World Cup and made his club comeback with Barcelona in late October, finally starting in last weekend’s impressive 6-1 victory over Alaves in LaLiga.
On the other hand, Malen resumed playing for Roma right after the last international break and has netted eight goals in nine Serie A outings this season.
Notable absences from the squad include Ryan Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong, Jorrel Hato, and Nathan Ake, while top Eredivisie scorer Wout Weghorst is notably missing, despite Xavi indicating last month he was still considered for selection.
The Netherlands is set to face Greece on November 13, followed by a significant match against Germany at the Olympiastadion three days later.
Oranje – November 2026. https://t.co/FJWwKeiLUf
— OnsOranje (@OnsOranje) November 6, 2026
Full Netherlands Squad:
Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton); Denzel Dumfries (Real Madrid), Lutsharel Geertruida (PSV), Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham); Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Al-Qadsiah), Quinten Timber (Crystal Palace), Guus Til (PSV), Joey Veerman (Borussia Dortmund), Gjivai Zechiel (Feyenoord); Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Ruben van Bommel (PSV), Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (Napoli), Donyell Malen (Roma), Mexx Meerdink (AZ), Crysencio Summerville (Al-Hilal).
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as the return of key players like De Jong and Malen could tip the balance in tight matches that determine advancement in the Nations League. A strong performance could not only enhance the Netherlands’ chances in this tournament but also boost the team’s morale heading into future international competitions.
Source: www.soccernews.com
