Verbruggen Receives Praise from King Willem-Alexander
June 22, 2026 · Global
Bart Verbruggen received praise from King Willem-Alexander after the Netherlands' convincing 5-1 win over Sweden, allaying concerns about his fitness.
Bart Verbruggen received praise from King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima after the Netherlands' convincing 5-1 win over Sweden. The young goalkeeper managed to overcome all doubts regarding his fitness, which had been a question mark before the World Cup. Verbruggen performed brilliantly with a number of impressive saves, although there were previously questions about his physical condition due to an injury in the friendly match against Uzbekistan. "I don't feel any pain in my hips anymore. Everything has disappeared. I am really fit and feel good," said Verbruggen in front of the NOS camera. The atmosphere in the dressing room was also full of joy, especially after the arrival of the royal members. "The royal family came to visit. I took a photo with Willem-Alexander, it was fun. The king said I played well and enjoyed the match," he added. Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong is also facing doubts before the match against Sweden due to a training collision with Quinten Timber. Even though he was able to play, De Jong had to be withdrawn after an hour of the match. "I still have a little pain, but I got over it today. Now I'm focused on the next match. I have confidence in that," he said.