Netherlands without Van Dijk in Nations League showdown against Germany

The Netherlands (the Oranje) top the Nations‑League‑group, but against Germany two key players are missing.

Captain Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool defender, is ruled out on Monday at 20:45 in Berlin’s Olympiastadion because of an injury.

Striker Brian Brobbey is also injured, so national team coach Xavi Hernández has to go into the match without his two most important pillars.

Germany sits in third place in the table ahead of the final rounds.

Optimism surrounds Xavi Hernández as the Netherlands tops Group A2

In the first leg in Amsterdam the duel ended 2:2, Van Dijk scored with a header, but the goal was disallowed because of Brobbey’s off‑side.

After the game Van Dijk gave national coach Jürgen Klopp his shirt, a sign of their years‑long collaboration at FC Liverpool.

There will be no rematch, which Klopp probably does not consider a serious sporting issue.