Worrying Update for Oranje Defender Jan Paul van Hecke: 'My Vision Kept Deteriorating'

In the first half, Van Hecke bravely thwarted a prime Japanese scoring opportunity. The defender headed away a shot from Ritsu Doan but took a heavy kick to the face in the process. Although he quickly got back on his feet, he was visibly affected by the blow. Van Hecke played out the entire match, but it became clear afterward that he had sustained significant damage.

Speaking to NOS after the match, Van Hecke provided a worrying update on his injury. "That Japanese player went straight for my eye because I headed the ball quite low. But ultimately, I won the ball, which was the most important thing," the defender analyzed the incident.

During the game, it was evident that Van Hecke was frequently touching his face, but only after the final whistle did the full extent of the impact become clear. He appeared before the cameras with a severely bruised eye. "It did affect my vision," Van Hecke admitted. "I noticed during the match that my sight was getting worse, and now it's diminishing even more due to the swelling. Hopefully, that will improve in the coming days."

It remains uncertain whether Van Hecke will be fit for the match against Sweden. "I expect more swelling, but it's part of the game," said the defender, who stepped in for the injured Jurriën Timber against Japan. National coach Ronald Koeman has limited options in defense, as Matthijs de Ligt is also sidelined with an injury.

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