MADRID, 22 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Netherlands coach, Louis van Gaal, has tested positive for coronavirus this Monday before facing Denmark and Germany in friendly matches in the next few days, the Royal Netherlands Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed.
The former FC Barcelona coach, 70, is isolated in Woudschoten after testing positive this Monday. The other members of the coaching staff, Danny Blind, Henk Fraser and Frans Hoek, will take over their duties at the ‘Oranje’ until their recovery.
Predictably, Van Gaal will not be able to sit on the bench to lead the Dutch team during the two friendly matches that he will play against Denmark, on Saturday March 26 at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, and against Germany, on Tuesday March 29 at the same scenario.
The Dutch coach has already missed the decisive Group G qualifying match for the Qatar World Cup against Norway after injuring his hip following a bicycle fall; he communicated with Henk Fraser in a duel in which his team won 2-0 and certified his ticket for the World Cup, which will be held from November 21 to December 18 this year.