Netherlands boss explains why Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt was hooked at half-time

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt made a mistake that led to Germany's first goal on Tuesday night and Ronald Koeman substituted him at half-time to 'protect him'.

De Ligt, who joined United from Bayern Munich for an initial €45m (£38.4m), didn't play a single minute for the Netherlands as they made the semi-final of Euro 2024.

The defender was overlooked for Stefan de Vrij and Virgin van Dijk but was given the chance to start alongside the latter in a Nation's League clash against Germany on Tuesday.

However, De Ligt made a mistake for Germany's equaliser in the first half - he played a poor pass and lost the ball - and was eventually hooked at the interval, suffering the same fate as Casemiro did against Liverpool when being replaced by Brighton centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke.

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De Ligt has fallen down the central defensive pecking order for his country and De Vrij, Van Dijk, Micky van de Ven of Tottenham and Van Hecke now all seem to be ahead of him.

Koeman spoke to Dutch broadcaster NOS after the game and was asked to explain his decision to remove De Ligt at half-time. "Of course, I would rather have kept Matthijs on the pitch," he said.

"It just looks like he is now in a period where all his mistakes are being punished. I gave him a new chance today, but eventually protected him by taking him off."

De Ligt's performance for the Netherlands in their previous game against Bosnia and Herzegovina was scrutinised in the Dutch media and Koeman defended him after that appearance.

"He himself realises that he was in the wrong position. This should not happen,