Dutch Defender Daley Blind Ends International Career With The Netherlands

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Daley Blind has decided to retire from international football with the Netherlands. The defender, who debuted in 2013 against Italy, accumulated 108 caps, making him the fifth most-capped player for the Dutch national team. He scored three goals during his international career.

Reflecting on his career, Blind shared his thoughts on social media. "It was an honour to wear the Orange shirt 108 times. For me, that is the highest achievable as a player: representing your country," he said.

Blind was part of the Dutch squad that reached the semi-finals at Euro 2024. However, he only made one substitute appearance during the tournament, coming on in the latter stages of their round of 16 match against Romania.

In his heartfelt message, Blind expressed gratitude for his time with the national team. "For 11 years I have done everything I could to keep wearing that beautiful Oranje shirt. It has given me so much, so many beautiful moments. I cherish them."

Blind acknowledged the emergence of a new generation of talented players and mentioned a conversation with the national coach as pivotal in his decision to retire from international duty. He stated it was time to focus entirely on his club and family.

"A new, talented generation is coming up and after a good conversation with the national coach it is time to fully focus on my club and my family," Blind noted in his post.

Gratitude and Farewell

Expressing his appreciation, Blind thanked everyone involved in his international career. "Once again, it was a great honour! They were great years. Thank you national coaches, staff, teammates and, of course, the Oranje legion! I will miss it and you. Thanks to everyone."

The defender's announcement marks the end of an era for Dutch football as they bid farewell to one of their most experienced players.