De Jong to miss Euro 2024 through injury

The Netherlands will be without star midfielder Frenkie De Jong at Euro 2024, after the Juventus man decided not to further injure himself during the tournament and return back to Italy to recuperate. The 27-year-old had played only three times for Barcelona since sustaining an ankle injury last March, and had hoped to play a part in the Dutch side's tournament.

The Dutch took a gamble on De Jong and Memphis Depay despite injuries, and only Depay has comfortably made it through the warm up games in time, as his fitness picked up last week.

It is a huge blow for Holland, who had hoped De Jong would recover in time for the second group stage game. De Jong had initially been listed as a member of Ronald Koeman's squad despite the injury worries.

On Sunday, Holland will play Poland in Group D. It is not yet known who will replace De Jong in the Dutch squad.

Netherlands Squad

Goalkeepers: Justin Bijlow (Feyenoord), Mark Flekken (Brentford), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)

Defenders: Nathan Ake (Manchester City), Daley Blind (Girona), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Lutsharel Geertruida (Feyenoord), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Stefan de Vrij (Inter Milan)

Midfielders: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool), Teun Koopmeiners (Atalanta), Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan), Jerdy Schouten (PSV Eindhoven), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), Joey Veerman (PSV Eindhoven), Georginio Wijnaldum (Al-Ettifaq)

Forwards: Steven Bergwijn (Ajax), Brian Brobbey (Ajax), Memphis Depay (Atletico Madrid), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Donyell Malen (Borussia Dortmund), Wout Weghorst (Hoffenheim, on loan from Burnley)