De Jong and Malen return to Netherlands squad
Netherlands boss Xavi has recalled Frenkie de Jong and Donyell Malen to his squad ahead of this month's decisive UEFA Nations League games against Greece and Germany.
The Oranje has eight points on the board after four games in Group A2, having beaten Serbia home and away while playing out draws at home with Germany and away to Greece.
It is top of its table, but only ahead of Greece on goal difference, and with Jurgen Klopp's Germany lurking three points behind, all three teams remain in contention to reach the quarter-finals.
De Jong has not featured for his country since the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Malen withdrew from the previous squad after sustaining a minor knee issue.
De Jong suffered a knee injury at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and only returned to club action with Barcelona in late October, making his first start of the campaign in last weekend's 6-1 rout of Alaves in LaLiga.
Malen, meanwhile, returned to action for Roma immediately after the previous international break and has scored eight goals in nine appearances in Serie A this term.
Ryan Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong, Jorrel Hato and Nathan Ake are among the Oranje's absentees, while Eredivisie top scorer Wout Weghorst has been omitted, despite Xavi saying the 34-year-old was still among his options last month.
Netherlands visits Greece on 14 November (AEDT), before going to the Olympiastadion for a potentially pivotal clash with rival Germany three days later.
Netherlands squad:
Mark Flekken (Bayer Leverkusen), Robin Roefs (Sunderland), Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion); Denzel Dumfries (Real Madrid), Lutsharel Geertruida (PSV), Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa), Jurrien Timber (Arsenal), Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool), Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham Hotspur); Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona), Teun Koopmeiners (Juventus), Tijjani Reijnders (Al-Qadsiah), Quinten Timber (Crystal Palace), Guus Til (PSV), Joey Veerman (Borussia Dortmund), Gjivai Zechiel (Feyenoord); Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth), Ruben van Bommel (PSV), Brian Brobbey (Sunderland), Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Noa Lang (Napoli), Donyell Malen (Roma), Mexx Meerdink (AZ), Crysencio Summerville (Al-Hilal).
