Premier League stopper Virgil van Dijk is coming under fire for his performances at international level, Dutch legend Marco van Basten among those questioning the Liverpool defender’s leadership skills.
Van Dijk may have been delighted to see Gibraltar feature next on the fixture list following Friday’s 4-0 obliteration at the hands of France.
After Ronald Koeman’s Oranje backline was torn limb from limb by Kylian Mbappe and co, one of the continent’s minnows represented a welcome change of pace, Van Dijk enjoying a far more relaxed evening against a Gibraltar side who failed to muster a shot on goal and managed only 13 per cent of the possession during an eventual 3-0 win.
A clean sheet and three points did not save Van Dijk from the microscope, however; Van Basten wondering aloud, after the latest in a growing throng of worrying performances, if the former Southampton and Celtic defender is the right man to wear the armband.
Liverpool ace Virgil van Dijk under fire for Netherlands displays
“He’s the captain,” Van Basten tells Rondo on Ziggo Sport. “He has to lead the defence. He makes noise, but doesn’t say anything. A good captain thinks out loud and makes things clear. He kind of gets stuck in between, causing chaos.”
“In England, they have already criticised him for this kind of thing,” adds Ruud Gullit; a Euro 1988 winner with the Netherlands. “He has now been chosen for the (FIFA) Team of the Year again. He thinks he is better than the rest.
“But I see things where I think; ‘you are the captain, you have to solve this better’. You are the very best, you are in the World Team of the Year, aren’t you? Then show it!”
France, during last week’s Euro qualifier opener, found themselves 3-0 up within 21 minutes, Van Dijk and co steamrollered by one of the game’s most feared frontlines.
“I have rarely seen what happens there. Van Dijk is not that good” adds former Ajax hero Jan Mulder.
“He is defensively insecure.”
Koeman’s side did get back on track on Monday at least. Manchester City’s Nathan Ake notched a rare brace in hte aftermath of Memphis Depay’s first-half opener against Gilbraltar.
The Netherlands will take on Greece and the Republic of Ireland during their next Euro qualifiers later this year.
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