Matthijs de Ligt update ahead of Netherlands' meeting with Austria

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By Conor Laird

Published: June 14, 2021 6:12 pm

Last Updated: June 14, 2021 6:17 pm

An update on the fitness of Netherlands star defender Matthijs de Ligt has been forthcoming on Monday evening.

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Dumfries strikes late

The Oranje of course got their Euro 2020 campaign underway on Sunday. Frank de Boer’s men welcomed Ukraine to the Johan Cruijff ArenA, for a highly anticipated Group C clash.

And the ensuing 90 minutes in the Dutch capital certainly didn’t disappoint, en route to an eventual 5-goal thriller.

After Wout Weghorst added to Gini Wijnaldum’s opener just shy of the hour mark, the Netherlands looked well on their way to a comfortable 3-point haul.

Visitors Ukraine, however, had other ideas, and went on to level things up ten minutes from time courtesy of a quickfire pair of strikes from Andriy Yarmolenko and Roman Yaremchuk.

One of the goals of the tournament so far as Andriy Yarmolenko brings Ukraine back into it#NED 2-1 #UKR #EURO2020 #RTESport #NEDUKR pic.twitter.com/F5Li3x56W8

— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 13, 2021

The recovery efforts of Andriy Shevchenko’s men, though, when all was said and done, proved to be in vain, as Denzel Dumfries directed home a fine header with 85 minutes on the clock to get the Netherlands’ Euros campaign off to the best possible start:

Dumfries punishes a poor Buschan clearance and it looks like they’ve rescued the points#NED 3-2 #UKR

Live score updates https://t.co/ymc4eCipHH

Watch live – https://t.co/wQsvKI41BU #EURO2020 #RTESport #NEDUKR pic.twitter.com/0KUDJ3HfAE

— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 13, 2021

De Ligt latest

However, whilst, in the end, de Boer and co. got the job done last night, the Oranje’s performance was not without its flaws.

Ukraine took full advantage of the hosts’ shaky backline to draw themselves level in the clash, as the Netherlands’ two most highly regarded central defenders watched on from afar.

The first, Virgil van Dijk, will of course play no part in the remainder of the European Championships.

In a boost for the Dutch, though, Matthijs de Ligt looks set to return to the fray for his nation’s next outing, versus Austria on Thursday night.

The Juventus standout was forced to sit out Sunday’s proceedings after picking up a groin injury in training earlier this week.

But, as confirmed by a host of reliable sources this evening, de Ligt has now returned to training, and will in turn be in contention to feature from the off in three days’ time.

De Ligt full training at KNVB campus in Zeist today – with Netherlands reserves (those who didn’t play last night): in contention to start v-Austria. De Boer’s shaky defence could do with him… pic.twitter.com/ozOG8gmi8H

— jamie jackson (@JamieJackson___) June 14, 2021