Frenkie de Jong Returns to Netherlands Team

Frenkie de Jong has returned to the pitch for the Netherlands after a 433-day absence due to an ankle injury, participating in a 4-0 victory over Hungary. While he expressed joy at his comeback, De Jong admitted to still experiencing 'moments of sensitivity' and acknowledged that he does not feel the same as before, requiring more match experience to regain his confidence. He stated, 'I’m not saying it’s a risk, but the feeling is not the same as before', and confirmed he will not start in the next match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Both club and national team coaches, Hansi Flick and Ronald Koeman, are taking a cautious approach to his reintegration into competitive play. De Jong's return is seen as a positive development for FC Barcelona, which has been missing key midfielders this season. His progress will be closely monitored as he continues to work on his fitness.