De Jong Addresses Criticism: Netherlands Ready for World Cup

Frenkie de Jong, star player of the Netherlands national team, has asserted that the “Oranje” are not facing any crisis, despite recent criticisms of the team’s performance. He emphasized the team’s readiness for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.

De Jong made these remarks during a press conference following a challenging 2-1 friendly victory over Uzbekistan, where the Dutch secured their win thanks to two penalties converted by Cody Gakpo, with the second coming in the dying moments of the match.

Despite the criticism directed at the team under coach Ronald Koeman, De Jong maintained that the atmosphere within the squad is stable. He stated, “We are not in a crisis; yes, there are areas that need improvement, but the team is in good shape and fully prepared.”.

He added, “I understand some people’s pessimism, but soon everyone will see reasons for optimism.”.

De Jong also discussed the importance of water breaks during matches, highlighting their significance for players. He remarked, “These moments are crucial, and we are accustomed to them in training after intense periods of work.”.

The Dutch national team aims to deliver a strong performance in the 2026 World Cup and hopes to achieve a positive start that reflects their ambitions for the tournament.