Comeback after two years: Xavi hails BVB star Veerman | OneFootball

After more than two years, BVB pro Joey Veerman is celebrating his comeback for the Netherlands. Against Germany, he also impressed national coach Xavi.

Joey Veerman had to wait more than two years for his next appearance for the Dutch national team. In the 1-1 draw against Germany in Amsterdam, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder finally got his chance. Afterwards, the 27-year-old received special praise from national coach Xavi.

Veerman’s previous appearance for the Netherlands had been a long time ago: he last played for the Oranje on July 10, 2024, in the European Championship semi-final against England. Under the new national coach, he has now returned to the squad. Against the German team coached by Jürgen Klopp, he initially started on the bench before coming on for Quinten Timber in the 57th minute. At that point, the Dutch were trailing 1-0. They managed to equalize in stoppage time.

Xavi was pleased with the Dortmund player’s performance after the match. “Veerman was very good,” the coach said at the press conference. He especially liked how the midfielder reacted to his team’s situation: “He dominated the game. I’m happy with him.”

Joey Veerman raves about BVB

The appearance was likely special for Veerman for several reasons. His relationship with Xavi’s predecessor Ronald Koeman is said to have been strained. With the coaching change, he got a new opportunity to prove himself in the national team shirt. His move from PSV Eindhoven to BVB in the summer may also have played a role in his return.

Photo: IMAGO

Even before the clash with Germany, Veerman had made his delight clear: “I made a great transfer and I get to play for my country again. I’m a happy man.” According to him, it was important in choosing his club to continue playing at the highest European level. “So Dortmund was a perfect match for me.”

In Amsterdam, Veerman also came up against players from his new club: Waldemar Anton, Nico Schlotterbeck and Felix Nmecha were part of the German squad. For BVB, the main positive is that their summer signing was able to impress immediately after the long international break. Whether Veerman will start the Netherlands’ next match remains to be seen. In any case, Xavi’s words should have improved his chances.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.