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Dutch Leave de Jong, Van Dijk Out of Last Nations League Clash

Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)
Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)
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Dutch Leave de Jong, Van Dijk Out of Last Nations League Clash

Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)
Netherlands' Teun Koopmeiners (2ndR) is congratulated by teammates Netherlands' defender #04 Virgil van Dijk (R) and Netherlands' forward #09 Wout Weghorst (2ndL) after scoring a goal during the UEFA Nations League football match between the Netherlands and Hungary at the Johan Cruyff ArenA on November 16, 2024 in Amsterdam. (AFP)

Captain Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Frenkie de Jong have both been released from international duty this week and will not travel for the Netherlands' last Nations League group game against Bosnia & Herzegovina, coach Ronald Koeman said.

"For both Frenkie and Virgil, it is better for them to leave the training camp at this time," Koeman said in a statement on Monday.

"That decision was made on medical grounds, with the interests of the players paramount, of course."

The Dutch will not call up any replacements with Koeman still able to pick from 23 players for Tuesday's Group A3 clash in Zenica.

Both De Jong and Van Dijk played in Saturday's 4-0 win over Hungary in Amsterdam which secured second place in the group for the Dutch and progress to the Nations League quarter-finals in March.

Van Dijk played the full 90 minutes while De Jong was substituted after 68 minutes.

It was the first game back in the Netherlands national team in 13 months for De Jong, who last season battled with an ankle injury and missed out on the European Championship in Germany this year.

On Saturday, the Barcelona midfielder said he "still needs some time" before finding his form although his return to the Dutch side drew positive reviews.

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Belgian Coach Tedesco Still Believes He’s the Right Man for the Job

Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
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Belgian Coach Tedesco Still Believes He’s the Right Man for the Job

Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)
Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco waves at the end of the UEFA Nations League Group A2 football match between Belgium and Italy at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on November 14, 2024. (AFP)

Belgium's 1-0 defeat by Israel in the Nations League on Sunday has ramped up the pressure on Domenico Tedesco but the coach still believes he is the right man for the job.

Belgium have won just two of their last 10 internationals and only avoided bottom place in their group, and relegation from the top tier, because of better head-to-head results against the Israelis.

The 39-year-old has come under scrutiny since Belgium's disappointing exit at the European Championship and while the defeat in Budapest on Sunday did little to ease the pressure Tedesco remained positive about his role.

"I trust my qualities. I trust my staff, I trust my players. I trust the people around me. I know how hard I work," he said.

Belgium's timid tactics have been criticized throughout the six-game campaign despite Tedesco promising a more adventurous approach after they limped out to France in the last 16 at Euro 2024 in July.

"After the Euros I told you that we have to change something in some games, we missed intensity, and that we have to try new players because if we don't do it now we will never do it," Tedesco told reporters.

"This campaign was different because of many, many injuries."

Belgium were without a host of key players for their last group game on Sunday and lost the match late on after a horror defensive error from new cap Matte Smets.

"It was a difficult game, difficult circumstances, and it's difficult to say something harsh to this young team," said Tedesco.

"We are better equipped now to go into the next year's World Cup qualifiers."

While his future was the subject of much debate in Belgium after the loss to Israel, Tedesco was not letting it get to him.

"The negative sentiment is nothing new. I was told this is typically Belgian," he added.

"Naturally the results in the Nations League did not help but in March we have a sort of final in the playoffs to keep our place in the A League. It will be good to start the New Year with a strong focus."