Netherlands entrust De Jong with captain's armband for Greece match

Head coach Xavi, who describes Frenkie de Jong as "one of the best midfielders in the world", will hand the star the captain's armband for the Netherlands' crucial UEFA Nations League match against Greece.

With Virgil van Dijk, who normally captains the Oranje, missing from the squad through injury, the absence of striker Brian Brobbey also leaves the team significantly short. Even so, the return of De Jong, who had not played for the national team since the knee injury he suffered at the World Cup, has lifted spirits in the Dutch camp.

The Dutch star, who won the LaLiga title under Xavi at Barcelona in the 2022-23 season, is also taking on a key role in the Spanish head coach's national team set-up. De Jong will lead the side out as captain in Friday's match against Greece, with Denzel Dumfries and Cody Gakpo named as vice-captains behind him.

Speaking about the decision, Xavi said: "We made this decision on Monday. Frenkie has a very strong character. He is a player who always wants the ball and aims to get better every day; he never shies away from taking responsibility. For me, he is one of the best midfielders in the world. Virgil is a great leader and a top-level footballer, but his absence cannot be an excuse for the Greece match. We have very good alternatives."

The standings in the Netherlands' group have become extremely tight. Level with Greece on eight points each, the Netherlands sit top of the group, ahead of their rivals on goals scored. With Germany, third on five points, set to face the Netherlands in the final match on 16 November, the importance of the result against Greece is doubled.