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Netherlands coach Frank de Boer questioned the need for international friendlies in an already congested calendar after losing two players to injuries in his side’s 1-1 draw at home to Spain on Wednesday.
Centre-back Nathan Ake had to be taken off early in the game with a muscle injury and will return to his club Manchester City immediately, missing the Netherlands’ Nations League games with Bosnia and Poland.
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Right-back Hans Hateboer meanwhile was brought off at half-time after clashing heads with Spain’s Jose Gaya, who had to be taken off immediately for Luis Enrique’s side.
“I don’t think this game needed to be played,” De Boer told a news conference. “Money is very important but we also need to look after our players.
“All interested parties need to sit down and talk because the health of our players is important. We all agree about that, and decisions need to be made.”
With European domestic seasons starting a month later than usual due to the COVID-19 pandemic, international sides have been playing three matches instead of the usual two within a two-week period.
Clubs are also under greater strain due to the shortened season, with sides in the Champions League and Europa League forced to play three European fixtures in three weeks.
De Boer’s criticism at the fixture pile up comes after Liverpool defender Joe Gomez sustained a knee injury in England training on Wednesday ahead of a friendly with Ireland, prompting coach Gareth Southgate to speak out over the demands placed on players.
“The bigger picture here is, everybody in the game needs to work together,” Southgate said earlier on Wednesday. “With a winter World Cup [in 2022] there was an opportunity this year to think differently.
“The pandemic has thrown up all sorts of difficulties for people. But everybody has tried to cram the programme into a smaller period.”