Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk remains possibly ‘the best defender in the world’ with Netherlands team-mate Denzel Dumfries delighted to have the Oranje captain back fit for the Qatar World Cup, speaking to Voetbal International.
During the three UEFA Nations League fixtures Van Dijk missed in June, Louis van Gaal’s Dutch side conceded five goals.
In the three games since he has returned to the starting XI, however, the Netherlands have not been breached even once.
The numbers alone tell you just how important Van Dijk is to Dutch hopes of reaching the latter stages of the World Cup. And while the Liverpool colossus did endure the odd nervy moment during Monday’s 2-0 victory over Senegal, he was still key to another clean sheet, throwing his head in the way of a goal-bound Ismaila Sarr effort long before Cody Gakpo opened the scoring.
Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk helped the Netherlands beat Senegal
“(Van Dijk’s return) certainly had an impact,” says Inter Milan wing-back Dumfries.
“Virgil is one of the best, if not the best defender in the world. And then he also brings his enormous presence. Virgil is crucial to this group.”
As Dumfries himself points out, the 1988 European Champions do not possess quite the same steel without the former Southampton and Celtic giant standing like a wise old oak at the heart of their three-man backline.
It’s hard to imagine that Frank de Boer’s side would have crashed out of Euro 2020 in such limp fashion if Van Dijk had been available for that disastrous last-16 defeat to the Czech Republic, for example.
During a game in which Van Dijk’s vast experience certainly played a key role, two players only just beginning their international journeys also left their mark on proceedings; the Netherlands kicked off their Group A campaign with a hard-fought win against African champions Senegal.
PSV talisman Gakpo took his tally to four goals in just 10 starts with an 84th minute opener. Heerenveen goalkeeper Andries Noppert, meanwhile, capped his Dutch bow – on about the biggest stage imaginable – with a handful of impressive reflex saves.
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