Real Madrid star named national team’s vice-captain

A member of the defensive ranks at La Liga giants Real Madrid has been afforded a new responsibility for the upcoming international break.

This comes amid confirmation of Denzel Dumfries being named the Netherlands’ vice-captain for the country’s Nations League fixtures over the weeks ahead.

Virgil van Dijk remains the Oranje’s first-choice captain and leader, set to don the armband for incoming fixtures against Germany, Serbia and Greece.

With Frenkie de Jong sidelined at present, though, incoming Dutch boss Xavi Hernández was left with a decision to make regarding the rest of his captaincy pecking order.

And speaking during an appearance in front of the media on Wednesday, the Spanish tactician confirmed precisely as much, affording increased prominence to Real Madrid summer signing Denzel Dumfries.

The Netherlands’ captaincy group for the coming weeks will be made up, in order, as follows:

• Virgil van Dijk
• Denzel Dumfries
• Nathan Aké
• Cody Gakpo

Real Madrid star named national team’s

Conor Laird – GSFN