Xavi recalls dropped player to the Netherlands squad

Gjivai Zechiël will rejoin the Netherlands squad from Monday. The midfielder announced that on Friday evening after Jong Oranje's disappointing 0-0 draw against Norway and can now prepare for his debut for the team of head coach Xavi.

Zechiël had already trained with the senior Netherlands squad earlier this week, but he knew in advance he would be available for Jong Oranje against Norway. "I already knew beforehand that I would play this match. I had known for quite a long time, so I was able to prepare for it," he told ESPN.

The midfielder admits switching between the Netherlands, Jong Oranje and Feyenoord is not easy. "You train there and then suddenly you have to play here. At the Netherlands they ask for something different again than here, and at Feyenoord they ask for something different again too, so in a short space of time you have to adapt to three systems."

Following the match against Norway, Zechiël will not stay with Michael Reiziger's team. "I will go back to the Netherlands. Not on Sunday, because that is of course too soon after today, but I will rejoin them on Monday," he confirmed.

That means Zechiël will miss Jong Oranje's matches against Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. "That's what I expect, yes."

Now he will wait for a possible senior Netherlands debut. "We'll see. I'm working hard for that and I hope I'm allowed to make my debut, and then I'll try to make an impact there," said the Feyenoord player.

In his first training sessions with the senior Netherlands squad, Zechiël clearly noticed the step up in level. "It's all a bit quicker there, the tempo is a bit higher and the details are just a bit sharper. But that's logical, I think. That is the next step for our group."

Jong Oranje, meanwhile, must carry on without Zechiël in the battle for European Championship qualification. Because of the goalless draw against Norway, Reiziger's side sit fourth in the group and no longer have qualification in their own hands.