Gregory van der Wiel injured in Euro 2012 match
It is looking like Ajax of Amsterdam will be without one of their top defenders, Gregory van der Wiel, for their upcoming match against NAC Breda. Van der Wiel was injured late in the game during Netherland's Euro 2012 qualifying match against Sweden.
Van der Wiel stayed on the pitch until the very end, but complained of pain in his foot once the match was over.
"I was on the receiving end of a tackle late on in the game. We had already made three substitutions, so I had to continue playing,"
van der Wiel told NUsport. "It hurts a lot though. We'll have to wait and see how serious it is."
Despite his injury, van der Wiel was instrumental in the two victories that the Netherland's managed in the past week of Euro 2012 qualifiers. The Netherlands now find themselves a full three points clear at the top of Group E with four wins out of
four.
Besides the full ninety minutes that van der Wiel played in the Netherland's 4-1 victory over Sweden in the Dutch capital, he also played the full ninety in Moldova when the Netherlands fought for a tough 1-0 victory.
Van der Wiel has played a major role for Ajax this season, playing in all eight of their league matches, and scoring one goal. Ajax currently sits in second place in the league standings, a single point back of league leaders PSV Eindhoven.
If van der Wiel is unable to play on Saturday, October 16, then manager Martin Jol will likely turn to either Oleguer Presas or Daley Blind as possible relacements.
At just 22 years old, van der Wiel has built for himself a strong reputation as one of the best attacking full-backs. He was instrumental in the Netherland's run to the World Cup over the summer, and everyone in the Dutch capital will be hoping that
the injury does not keep him out for long.
Tags: