Thessaloniki has become the next stop in Xavi Hernández’s first Netherlands camp, but the journey south has brought another unwelcome departure. Jan Paul van Hecke has left the Oranje squad after aggravating a foot problem, ruling him out of Wednesday’s Group A2 meeting with Greece and Sunday’s return against Serbia in Eindhoven.
A costly night in Belgrade
Van Hecke took a blow to his foot during Sunday’s 2-1 win over Serbia in Belgrade, a result that gave Xavi his first victory as Netherlands coach. The defender was able to see out the match, yet could not continue in training on the eve of the Greece fixture because of significant pain.
- The Tottenham centre-back will travel back to London for assessment by his club.
- He joined Spurs from Brighton this summer in a €60 million transfer.
- The injury means he will miss both the trip to Greece and the Serbia match at PSV’s Philips Stadion on Sunday.
- Van Hecke is the third player to withdraw from the Dutch group, following Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo.
The setback follows an eventful start to Xavi’s tenure. His first game ended in a 1-1 draw with Jürgen Klopp’s Germany in Amsterdam before the Dutch won in the Serbian capital. The contest in Thessaloniki now carries the added weight of first place in Group A2.
Defensive reshuffle before Greece
Xavi has options, though the balance of his defence must be reconsidered without Van Hecke. Virgil van Dijk, the captain and usual left-sided central defender, could move across to the right of the pairing. The more likely replacement, however, is Arsenal’s Jurriën Timber.
- Van Dijk remains available to lead the side against Greece.
- Timber is the leading candidate to step into the central-defensive vacancy.
- The final decision will shape a match that could determine control of the Group A2 standings.
For Netherlands, the immediate task is to preserve momentum after Belgrade despite a thinning squad. For Van Hecke, the international window ends early, with Tottenham awaiting clarity on the foot injury in London.
