De Ligt to Miss Euro 2024 Opener Due to Injury
The Netherlands national team has suffered a major blow just days before the start of the European Championship, with Matthijs de Ligt being ruled out of the tournament due to a severe ankle injury.
The 23-year-old defender, who has been an integral part of the Oranje’s success in recent years, suffered the injury during a training session on the eve of the tournament. Scans revealed a serious sprain, which is expected to keep him sidelined for several weeks.
The Amsterdam-born defender has been a key player for the Dutch national team, earning 32 caps and scoring 3 goals. His absence is a significant blow to the team’s chances, given his experience and leadership qualities.
"We are deeply disappointed to lose Matthijs, but we have a strong squad and we will make sure to overcome this setback," said Dutch national team coach, Frank de Boer. "We will miss his qualities on the pitch, but we have other players who are ready to step up and fill the gap."
De Ligt’s injury is a result of a freak accident during a training session, where he landed awkwardly from a jump and twisted his ankle. The severity of the injury was not initially clear, but further examination revealed the extent of the damage.
The 24th edition of the European Championship is set to kick off on June 14, with the Netherlands facing Ukraine in the opening match. With De Ligt’s absence, the Dutch will need to regroup and reorganize their defense quickly to face the tough opponents ahead.
De Ligt is likely to require surgery and will likely miss the entire tournament, dealing a significant blow to the team’s chances of success. The Oranje have a strong squad, but his absence will be felt, especially in terms of leadership and set-piece defending.
The injury is a bitter pill to swallow for De Ligt, who was instrumental in the Oranje’s run to the semifinals of Euro 2020. His absence will be a significant loss, but the team can draw inspiration from his fighting spirit and determination to bounce back from adversity.
The road to recovery will be long and arduous, but De Ligt will be in the thoughts of his teammates and fans as they take to the pitch for the opening match. The young defender is expected to make a full recovery, but for now, he will be forced to watch from the sidelines as his teammates contest for the coveted European title.