• De Jong injured groin in Holland’s win over Mexico • Midfielder out for two to four weeks, say Holland

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Holland will be without Nigel de Jong for the rest of the World Cup through injury.

The 29-year-old was forced off nine minutes into the Oranje’s last-16 clash against Mexico on Sunday with a groin complaint. Holland’s coach, Louis van Gaal, admitted after the last-gasp 2-1 win that De Jong was a doubt for their quarter-final clash against Costa Rica and the Dutch FA has confirmed the midfielder’s tournament is over.

A post on its Twitter account read: “Nigel de Jong has a tear in his groin muscle. He’s probably out for two to four weeks. De Jong continues rehabilitation with #Orange.”

Van Gaal had described De Jong’s expected absence from Saturday’s quarter-final as a “big setback” so the full severity of the injury will be an even bigger blow.

His absence against Costa Rica and potentially beyond will harm Holland’s chances of reaching a second successive World Cup final. The Oranje have impressed so far in Brazil but Arjen Robben, speaking before the severity of the injury became clear, admitted De Jong would be a great miss.

“It’s a hard blow for us that Nigel has been injured,” the winger said. “The possible absence of De Jong in the quarter-finals is a heavy loss.

“But our strength is that every player who comes off the bench on to the pitch manages to have a big impact on the match. The confidence within our team is very big, in spite of any absence.”