Netherlands coach Xavi said Donyell Malen must feel important to the national team and that the team should benefit from his strong form at AS Roma. Malen has scored 22 goals for Roma in 2026 and has been one of Serie A’s leading players, but he has struggled to reproduce that form for the Netherlands, where he has scored 13 goals in 56 appearances and has not scored for about a year.

Malen has moved between the starting lineup and the bench under previous Netherlands coaches and missed the September matches through a minor injury. Xavi said Malen can also play on the right but is primarily a forward. The Netherlands were due to face Greece in Amsterdam and Germany in Berlin in their final two Nations League group matches.