PSV's former doctor warns as Het injury toll on the Netherlands climbs

In the cramped medical office that once served PSV, former club doctor Cees‑Rein van den Hoogenband stared at a list of Dutch internationals ruled out by injury. He warned that the Nations League schedule had become "overfull" and that "Het is onbegrijpelijk" – the injury toll was simply incomprehensible.

International calendar overload

Van den Hoogenband explained that the Nations League now squeezes four matches into two weeks, on top of a Premier League routine of two games per week. "That has a huge medical impact," he told Sportnieuws, adding that the commercial pressure to fill the calendar was "so terrible".

Dutch internationals hit by injuries

During this international window, Brian Brobbey suffered a severe hamstring problem, while Lutsharel Geertruida, Cody Gakpo and Jan Paul van Hecke also withdrew from the Netherlands (Oranje) squad. "Brobbey’s case is a classic example of over‑load," the former PSV doctor said, noting the Premier League’s relentless tempo.

Just before the internationals, Justin Kluivert and Donyell Malen were forced to pull out, adding further strain to the Dutch selection. Their absences, Van den Hoogenband noted, were not linked to the Nations League but still highlighted the fragility of the squad.

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He warned that commercial interests have turned the Nations League "into something sprouted from the ground" as if the European Championship and World Cup were not enough. Players are shuttled from clubs worldwide, travelling constantly, and "people are still surprised by the number of injuries".

Van den Hoogenband fears the situation will worsen. "I hold my breath: I fear many more will follow. It is like mopping with the tap open, because players simply do not get the rest they need," he warned, recalling his relatively easy days as PSV’s club doctor.

The message is clear: without a rethink of the international schedule, the Netherlands and other nations risk a cascade of injuries that could undermine major tournaments.