Injured De Jong, Klaassen out of Netherlands squad

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Netherlands midfielders Nigel de Jong and Davy Klaassen have pulled out of the squad ahead of a European Championship qualifier against Latvia and a friendly against Mexico.

De Jong withdrew Monday morning with a hamstring injury. Klaassen pulled out Sunday night with a groin strain.

Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink called up Leroy Fer of Queens Park Rangers and Luuk de Jong of PSV Eindhoven as replacements.

Fer was part of the Netherlands team that finished third at the World Cup in Brazil, but De Jong has not played for the national team since February 2012.

After three losses in his first four matches since taking over from Louis van Gaal after the World Cup, Hiddink has staked his future on the result of the Latvia qualifier, hinting he may quit if the Dutch team loses.

The Netherlands is third in Group A, six points behind the Czech Republic and Iceland.

The Netherlands takes on Mexico on Wednesday before facing Latvia on Sunday. Both matches are being played at the Amsterdam Arena.