De Jong is disappointed with many missed international matches: 'Could have been close to a hundred'


For Frenkie de Jong, the international match just before the World Cup stood at 66 matches. A respectable number, although the Dutch playmaker has also missed many in recent years. He discussed this in conversation with VI. De Jong made his debut in September 2018, against Peru. Already back almost eight years. Due to injuries, the midfielder did not play as many minutes in the orange shirt as he would like. "I have really missed so much in the last two and a half years, especially because of that ankle injury," he told VI after the friendly match against Algeria, number 65 for him. Number 66 followed against Uzbekistan. 'I could have had close to a hundred international matches, instead of the 65 that are now behind my name. I think I must have missed about 25 or 30. That's also why I really wanted to play that European Championship (2024, ed.). At the same time, it is not important how many international matches you have played, but as far as I am concerned it is about the impact you have had.' What about his own impact in the Dutch team? 'We often play against teams that collapse in a low block. Then it is difficult to be adventurous and create something with a dribble as a 6. That is easier if an opponent puts a lot of pressure. I don't know if they play like that in America.'