Netherlands forward Steven Bergwijn was forced off at half time after suffering “physical issues” during his side’s European Championship last-16 victory over Romania, his coach Ronald Koeman has said.
The 26-year-old forward was substituted at the break and was replaced by Donyell Malen, with the Netherlands leading 1-0 at the time before scoring twice more after the break.
Bergwijn was making his first appearance of the tournament as he was selected ahead of Malen and Jeremie Frimpong by Koeman, and may now be an injury doubt for Saturday night’s quarter-final.
“Bergwijn had some physical issues,” Koeman said after the game. “It was a risk to keep him in the match. That’s why I made the decision to take him out at half-time.”
Netherlands will face the winners of the last-16 tie between Austria and Turkey in Saturday night’s quarter-final clash in Berlin.
Koeman’s side beat Romania 3-0 thanks to a first-half goal from Cody Gakpo, before substitute Malen added a second and third in the game’s final 10 minutes.
Bergwijn joined Ajax from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2022, and has scored 29 goals in 76 appearances for the Amsterdam club.
The forward has been capped 33 times at senior international level since his debut in 2018 and has scored eight goals.
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(Joris Verwijst/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
