Virgil van Dijk and Brian Brobbey withdraw from Netherlands national team, Digi Mart USA News: Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk and striker Brian Brobbey have withdrawn from the squad of head coach Xavi Hernández, according to the Dutch broadcaster NOS. The Netherlands play Greece in the Nations League in Amsterdam on Friday and Germany in Berlin on Monday.
Centre-back Van Dijk and striker Brobbey, who both featured last weekend for Liverpool and Sunderland in the Premier League, are not sufficiently fit to play. No replacements have been called up for the pair for now, leaving the Oranje squad at 23 players.
Van Dijk’s last international match, a 2-1 win over Serbia in early October, was his 100th appearance. Brobbey started against Germany (1-1) during that international window but was injured after just over half an hour in his 17th match for the Netherlands.
Speaking at a press conference earlier in the day, Xavi said he had spoken with Brobbey, who contributed to Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Chelsea on Sunday. “I have spoken to him and he feels good.
He played very well yesterday; it was a big effort. We will know more today about how fit he is.”
Only three players, Denzel Dumfries, Crysencio Summerville and Tijjani Reijnders, attended Monday evening’s Netherlands training session.
The Nations League matches against Greece (November 13, 20:45) and Germany (November 16, 20:45) can be followed through NOS via a live blog, livestream, television and radio.
