Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke left a national team training session early, De Telegraaf reports. The departure came during the squad's final session before it travels to Greece, according to the same outlet.
De Telegraaf frames the early exit as a possible threat to the Netherlands' chances in the away fixture, describing Van Hecke as a regular starter for the team. The report does not state why he left the session or whether the issue is injury-related.
Other Dutch outlets carried similar accounts. NU reported that Van Hecke withdrew from Oranje training one day before the Greece match, while NOS said he stepped out early at the last session before the trip. AD.nl also reported that he left the final training session ahead of the Greece fixture. Voetbalzone.nl described the development as a significant setback for head coach Xavi, calling Van Hecke an undisputed first-choice player for the national side.
No reason for Van Hecke's early departure has been confirmed, and the reports do not indicate whether he will be available for the match. The Netherlands squad was preparing for its away meeting with Greece at the time of the reports, which were published on Wednesday.
What to watch next: whether the Dutch federation or coaching staff issues an update on Van Hecke's status before the Greece match.
