The Netherlands will be without Frenkie de Jong for their UEFA Nations League A meeting with Germany after coach Xavi confirmed the Barcelona midfielder has a minor injury.
De Jong had been optimistic after the 7-0 victory over Greece, but was left out of the squad for the sixth-round match in Germany after the team doctor determined he was unable to play.
“It’s a very minor injury, but he can’t play tomorrow, so we decided to remove him from the squad,” Xavi said.
He added that the decision was made jointly rather than at the player’s request, and said he had spoken with Barcelona’s doctor, whom he described as one of his best friends in football.
“There’s no problem. He’s just experiencing a little discomfort, but he really can’t play tomorrow,” said Xavi, who confirmed the Netherlands have 23 players available.
Xavi said the Netherlands would approach the match with the same intention despite the possibility of changes to the team.
“We have to compete with all our might,” he said. “This is a huge challenge for us and a good test.”
Germany, managed by Jurgen Klopp, need to win, and Xavi believes the Netherlands can take advantage of the spaces left by their opponents. He said his side could control possession, attack in transition and create opportunities in several ways.
The coach also acknowledged the longstanding rivalry between the Netherlands and Germany, saying he understood it more clearly after hearing about it from his players.
“It’s a great game on a bigger stage, against a top team and a top coach,” he said.
Xavi expects Cody Gakpo to be most effective on the left, although he believes the Liverpool forward can also influence matches as a number nine or second striker. He praised Gakpo’s performance against Greece despite not scoring or assisting, highlighting his movement, defensive work and the way he helped Joey start attacks.
Responding to Klopp’s description of the Netherlands’ approach as “Xavi-ball”, Xavi rejected the label and credited his players.
“It’s not Xavi-ball; it’s all about the players,” he said. “If they don’t have the ability, it’s simply impossible to play like that.”
He said maintaining continuity was the main objective, with the team seeking to reproduce its performance against Greece on a larger stage.
Xavi explained that “attacking space” meant movement from the wingers, attacking midfielders and number nine to move the opposition defence and create openings. He expects a different contest from the Greece game, with Germany likely to press relentlessly in keeping with Klopp’s style.
The coach believes the victory over Greece helped his players embrace his tactical ideas because they enjoyed themselves on the pitch. He is “deeply convinced” they can respond against Germany, citing the second half of the previous meeting with Germany, spells against Serbia and the second half away to Greece as evidence of their ability to be brave.
The match will be played at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, where Xavi captained Barcelona to Champions League victory in 2015. It was also his final match for the club, and he came off the bench for the last 10 minutes before lifting the trophy.
“My family and friends were there, so it was my last game,” he said. “It felt incredible. That’s why I have good memories of Berlin.”
Xavi also confirmed that the Netherlands use set-piece specialists and work extensively on both attacking and defensive situations. Asked whether Patrick Lodewijks remained involved, he replied: “No, it’s Sergio Alegre.”
