Lineker heaps praise on ‘great’ Liverpool ace, compares him to England 1966 hero

Follow us on Google Discover

Gary Lineker has heaped praise on Liverpool and Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk on BBC MOTD’s Top 10 Greatest World Cup players – likening the “calm” Netherlands skipper to England legend and 1966 World Cup winner, Bobby Moore.

Van Dijk, 31, remains one of Liverpool’s best. Yes, the Dutch defender is not in the form of his life at the moment, but he still remains one of the best centre-backs to ever play the game. He will be crucial to The Netherlands in Qatar.

Liverpool fans love the ex-Celtic and Southampton star. His ability to control a game from centre-back, his calmness, his authority, his leadership – it is right at the top of the current game. He has changed Liverpool since his arrival.

Already, he has clocked up 202 appearances in five years. That is, despite a year out after that injury sustained during a tackle from Jordan Pickford. Lineker has heaped praise on van Dijk by comparing him to one of England’s greatest.

“What a gorgeous footballer, super-intelligent player,” Lineker told BBC MOTD’s Top 10 Greatest World Cup players, on Moore. “Wasn’t particularly quick, but his positional play. Lineker continued, comparing him to van Dijk.

“They’re not similar in many ways, but in the sense they never look like they’re struggling, they’re never on the ground, desperate last-ditch tackles, a little bit like Virgil van Dijk. You never see him going to ground, very calm, great passer.”

Lineker praises on Liverpool defender van Dijk, likens him to Moore

A huge compliment to van Dijk. Moore is one of the country’s best-ever players, once told by Pele that he is the only defender that could tackle the Brazilian. For an Englishman to liken Moore to van Dijk, should be a real compliment.

How far can van Dijk and The Netherlands go in Qatar? Well, they have a chance if Louis van Gaal can get the best out of his attacking stars. Denzel Dumfries, Memphis Depay and Steven Bergwijn have to be at the top of their game.

But they seriously have to play at 100%, full tilt to have a chance of winning the trophy. You would expect a France, at 80%, or a Brazil at 80%, would have enough to beat The Netherlands. Semi-finals for van Dijk would be a success.