Mother of Oranje international Frenkie de Jong (29) had to 'let him go'

When De Jong (29) regained fitness and started playing for FC Barcelona at the end of the regular season, the World Cup came back into focus. He was selected by national coach Ronald Koeman, and since then, 'Oranje fever' has gripped the De Jong household. "We think it's fantastic, and he's thrilled to be part of it," Frenkie's mother, Marjon, told RTL Boulevard.

According to her, football played a central role in her son's life from a young age. "He sacrificed a lot for it. Early nights, no parties, and no alcohol." It wasn't easy for her when those sacrifices paid off and De Jong developed into a world-class footballer. "I had to let him go," she said.

This was partly because Frenkie's younger brother was a high-level gymnast, requiring attention to be divided. Mother Marjon entrusted some of the care to Frenkie's grandfather, who played a significant role in his early football career. He drove the midfielder all over the country, allowing Marjon to focus on both boys.

For now, she's staying far away from the United States, where the Oranje are battling it out in Group F with Japan, Sweden, and Tunisia for a spot in the knockout stage. "If they (the Dutch national team at the World Cup, ed.) make it far enough, then I'll come over, but first, we have to see if they get that far."