Frenkie de Jong sidelined for months as Koeman departs

Frenkie de Jong out for months with serious knee injury

This is the news no Oranje fan wanted. Frenkie de Jong has suffered a serious knee injury and will be sidelined for months (2) (3). Barcelona fear a lengthy absence for the 29-year-old midfielder, who is a cornerstone for both club and country (4). The timing is brutal, the Netherlands are already in transition after a painful World Cup, and now the midfield anchor is gone for the foreseeable future.

Koeman era over, the search begins

Ronald Koeman is out. The KNVB are now hunting a new head coach after his departure (1). The World Cup round of 16 exit to Morocco stung, and Virgil van Dijk called it heartbreaking. Now the rebuild starts at the top. Pep Guardiola has been linked with the role, though pundits Wim Kieft and René van der Gijp consider it unlikely, while agent Rob Jansen refuses to rule it out. Ronald Waterreus has publicly pushed for Sarina Wiegman, calling her the ultimate candidate.

Summerville on Roma's radar

Crysencio Summerville is a dream target for AS Roma this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano (5). Diego Moreira has also been named alongside him in the Italian club's thinking. No deal yet, but the Oranje winger could be on the move.

Spain back in the World Cup final

Sixteen years after Andrés Iniesta broke Dutch hearts in Johannesburg, Spain are back in the World Cup final (6). It stings, but it also puts Oranje's own journey into sharp relief, one side rebuilt and reached the summit again, the other is just starting over.