Holland’s Frenkie de Jong poked the ball out of the air at the target opponent. The hand hit an awkward spot.
Frenkie de Jong’s hand really hurt Cheikhou Kouyate. Stella Pictures
The Netherlands started their football World Cup career by beating Senegal 2–0.
They answered the goals in the second half with a handsome header Davy Klaasen and in overtime Cody Gakpowhose hit Frenkie de Jong initially.
The 25-year-old Barcelona player was also involved in another event that significantly affected the course of the match.
De Jong’s fight for the ball Cheikhou Kouyate against ended with the Senegalese’s cry of pain on the surface of the field.
The slow motion pictures showed de Jong pushed the midfielder from a tight spot when Kouyate had jumped into the air in pursuit of the ball.
The contact appeared light, but Kouyate, who represents Premier League club Nottingham Forest, hurt himself badly enough from the push that his match ended. He was carried off the field on a stretcher.
Kouyate is one of the key players in the Senegal national team. The team will next play on Friday against the host country, Qatar.
Kouyate was carried off the field on a stretcher. EPA / AOP