Football

Frenkie de Jong, the Dutch playmaking midfielder, has returned to training ahead of the Netherlands' opening match at the European Championship. The 24-year-old has been struggling with ankle injuries this season and has not played a match since April.De Jong's return to fitness is a major boost for the Netherlands, who are seen as one of the favorites to win the tournament. The midfielder is a key part of coach Ronald Koeman's plans, and his presence in the squad will give the Dutch a much-needed boost.Koeman said that De Jong is not yet ready to play a full 90 minutes, but he is hopeful that the midfielder will be fit enough to start the tournament. "He was part of the training but we kept him away from any contact," Koeman said. "It is possible that Frenkie will not make it to the first match. But we can wait until the second or third game. That's a possibility. Even if he can't play the first two games, we'll stick with him. But if it looks as if he will miss the entire group stage, I might have to rethink his selection."The Netherlands will play their opening match against Poland on Sunday, June 13. They will also face Austria and Ukraine in Group C.