Frenkie de Jong's 'Concerning Situation' Divides Opinion: 'Sometimes Things Just Happen by Chance'

The Dutch midfielder was involved in a fierce training ground challenge, which also sidelined Quinten Timber for the upcoming match. Koeman couldn't confirm if De Jong would be fit in time. "That must have been a nasty collision," Ralf Seuntjens noted from experience. "Those are really inconvenient spots to take a hit."

What will the Netherlands do without Frenkie de Jong? Robert Maaskant actually sees a positive side to it. "Sometimes things arise purely by chance," the analyst began. "We're all big fans of Frenkie; he's a fantastic footballer. But perhaps, out of necessity, with a different player, a completely different dynamic will emerge in midfield. One that is much more forward-thinking. That suddenly brings pace to the game."

According to him, that wouldn't be an unnecessary luxury for this Oranje squad. "We all declare possession sacred, and Frenkie is the king of that. With his qualities, he could also send key players higher up the pitch; now, someone else might do that."

Ralf Seuntjens, for his part, isn't overly concerned about the group stage if Frenkie is indeed injured. However, it would be a different story if Oranje were to miss De Jong in the knockout phase. "Then you won't go far in this World Cup," assured the striker for Belgian club Lommel SK. "I really think he's incredibly crucial in the opponent's transition. I don't see anyone else in the Dutch national team who can manage that."

Ali Boussaboun also believes Frenkie is vital for Oranje. "What are his qualities? With him, you finally get to play football. His movements ensure that players get free, and he can find the right man. He creates space and shifts the play. He's not about the final pass, but rather finding the players who can deliver it."

Seuntjens is certain that better opponents will adapt to an Oranje with Frenkie. "If you have him on the field, as an opponent, you'll devise a tactic. They'll quickly see that high pressing is futile; then the Netherlands just needs to find an answer to break through that."

Maaskant agrees; he also appreciates Frenkie's play but is critical of Oranje's current style and De Jong's role within it. "He's the connecting player, but never the decisive one. That's why I look at the dynamic of the Dutch national team. We all know it's still too rigid; we simply create too little," he concluded.

In the new episode of the daily Sportnieuws.nl World Cup football podcast, Robert Maaskant, Ralf Seuntjens, and Ali Boussaboun discuss the latest World Cup news. They talk about Ismael Saibari's fantastic goal for Morocco, the worrying news about Frenkie de Jong, and discuss the first red card for talking with a hand over the mouth.

Furthermore, they preview the Netherlands-Sweden match and are already getting excited for the upcoming 'Oranjemars' (Orange March). All this and much more can be found in the Sportnieuws.nl World Cup football podcast, available every morning from 7:30 AM in your favorite podcast app.