Nimir Abdel-Aziz was not included in the Netherlands’ 17-player squad for the matches against Belgium, creating uncertainty over the star opposite’s participation at the 2026 European Championship.
Dutch head coach Joël Banks has not provided a public explanation for Abdel-Aziz’s absence. While his omission from the preparation squad does not necessarily mean he will miss the European Championship, the situation has become a major talking point ahead of the tournament.
Without Abdel-Aziz, the Netherlands began their preparations with a 3-0 defeat against Belgium at Martiniplaza in Groningen. The Red Dragons won the opening two sets 25-18 and 25-16 before overcoming a stronger Dutch challenge in the third. The Netherlands recovered from a 16-20 deficit to draw level at 20-20, but Belgium regained control in the closing stages to secure the straight-sets victory.
For now, however, the biggest question concerns Abdel-Aziz. With the European Championship approaching and no official reason given for his absence, it remains unclear whether one of the Netherlands’ biggest stars will be part of the final squad.