Euro 2020: 'It's 50-50, but I feel good': De Ligt hopeful of recovering in time to play against Ukraine

Netherlands defender Matthijs de Ligt believes that he has a 50 percent chance of recovering from his groin injury before Dutch's Euro 2020 opener against Ukraine on Sunday in Amsterdam. De Ligt picked up the injury last week in a training camp in Portugal and returned to full training on Thurdsay.

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"We'll see how it feels on the day itself," he told reporters, "but Sunday is definitely my goal".

The 21-year-old is seen as a player to watch out for in Euro 2020 and his participation will be a massive boost for the Netherlands, who are already without the services of first-choice goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen and captain Virgil van Dijk.

"It's 50-50, but I feel good. Let's say 60 percent chance I'll make it," De Ligt said, quickly upping the odds.

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Ligt added that he is in a good rhythm and is looking forward to playing against Ukraine.

"I have played all the last 15 games of the Serie A season with Juventus, so I have match rhythm anyway. "It's about the pain I feel right now. It has already decreased so much."

Also read: Euro 2020: Lorenzo Pellegrini joins Italy's injury list, Gaetano Castroville likely to replace him in the squad - Sky247 Blog

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If Matthijs de Ligt does not recover in time, Jurrien Timber, who won his first cap against Scotland last week, is most likely to replace him with coach Frank de Boer going in with three centre backs. Ligt further heaped praise on Timber, stating that he is an exciting prospect for the team.

"I have often seen him play at Ajax," said De Ligt about the 19-year-old Timber, another off the Ajax Amsterdam production line. "That was often in a four-man defence, as a right central defender or as a right back. You could already see there that his technical base is good.

"You also see that in the matches. He is calm with the ball and is looking for the right football solutions. He also stands his ground. He has done an excellent job in the last two matches. He has shown the national coach that he can play at this level."

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